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Rutland's oldest department store Ford's of Oakham, which opened in 1877, to close this Summer




A Rutland store has announced it will close its doors in August as the family business moves its attention back to funeral directing.

Ford’s of Oakham opened in 1877 and has premises in Church Street where it was originally a furniture maker and funeral directors, before gradually expanding and adding departments to become the county’s only independent department store.

But, while the department store will be closing, the original family business of funeral directing will remain, with a new office set to open at the front of the current Ford’s building later this Summer.

Staff at Ford's of Oakham, with Juliana White, front in green (11634437)
Staff at Ford's of Oakham, with Juliana White, front in green (11634437)

Funeral director, Richard White, whose family has run the business for nearly 150 years said: “We know the people of Rutland will be sad to see Ford’s Department Store close its doors but the family business will still be very much at the heart of the county and we will continue to serve as independent funeral directors, as we have done for generations.”

The majority of the Church Street building will be rented out and Ford’s Funeral Directors will have an office on the ground floor, which will be separated from the remaining retail space.

Ford’s Department Store’s last official day of trading will be August 31, or until stock lasts.



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