IT will be the end of an era when a family-run shop in Cardigan which can trace its origins back to 1884 closes its doors for the final time at the end of this month.

David Evans, at Pendre, will close on January 26 when current owners David and Lavinia, who have run the jewellery and china business for the past 39 years, take a well-earned retirement.

“We have so many fond memories of our time in the shop since we started back in 1980,” said David, who is 72.

“We will miss all of our customers, many of who have become good friends over the years.

“As well as our regular customers from Cardigan, we have people who come here on holiday every year and even if they don’t buy anything, they will always pop in to say hello and that is so important.”

The jewellery shop was originally established in Cardigan back in 1884 by David Evans who returned injured from sea to start a new enterprise, with the original business believed to be in William Street.

Over the years, the firm grew in stature and established its name in the town as synonymous with jewellery.

David married Abigail and they had five children – William, Jack, Tom, Ivor and Annie. When David died at a young age, his widow continued the business for many years until she passed it on to Annie and Willie.

It moved to its current premises on Pendre around the turn of the 20th century. The building had also seen life as a brewery, a bottle factory – making bottles with glass balls in the neck – and an office for Customs and Excise.

Willie did the clock and watch repairs and was also in charge of the town clock until his death in 1963.

Annie died in 1980 and the business was passed on to her niece and nephew, Peggy and David, who ran the business alongside David’s wife Lavinia.

In 1982, the businesses expanded to sell china and glass and opened adjacent to the jewellery shop which retained its century of character and charm.

When Peggy retired in 1993, David and Lavinia carried on and in 1999 the china shop was extended, doubling the floor space available.

But now the couple, who have two children Alison and Neil, have decided to call it a day and over the last few months have been clearing their stock from the shelves at discount prices.

“We have had a great time but things are changing on the high street, especially in the last two or three years,” said David.

“Internet shopping is now so much more popular – people will often come into the shop, measure their ring size and we never see them again as they go and order something off the internet. That’s life.

“We have enjoyed every minute and we still intend to be busy in retirement,” added David, who fulfilled an ambition to build his own house in the town a few years ago.

“We would like to thank all our customers over the years for their support and we will miss them.

“If we can enjoy ourselves as much in retirement as we have working in the shop every day, then we will be very happy and have no problem."