The Last of the Mohicans

24th October 2020

I took the opportunity to look into T.H. Downes greengrocer’s shop in Colinton Village. I was right with my earlier musings that it is indeed Patsy’s brother who since she died back in March aged 81 years has been trying to help it to limp along. He’s 77 years old, so younger than her. Because of a rotor-cuff injury he’s unable to continue working at the nursery. He remarked how he couldn’t but wonder how Patsy had spent over 60 years in the shop. He found himself getting bored but said he enjoyed people coming in for a blether. As would she. But she was also a great reader, rarely to be found without a book in her hand. If I recall correctly, she liked James Paterson. I took several photographs.

In comparing them to others I’d taken previously he’s maintained most of the shop’s vintage feel. He’s also increased the stock and the range. I’m glad I visited. One day, probably sooner than later, I’ll drop by and find the business has closed for good, after operating for over a century.

After a century of being in the family, January 2023 marks the end of an era with Downes’s greengrocer shop in Colinton Village currently up for sale.Tempus fugit. And The Last of the Mohicans.

Downes' Green-Grocers, Colinton Village

I’ve always rather liked the traditional green-grocers shops selling fruit 'n vegetables which used to be so common on our high streets.

Like many small shops they’ve been decimated by large supermarkets.

There’s still one in Dingwall High Street.

Throughout the 1950s to the 1970s there was also one located at Oxgangs Broadway serving the community.

So, it’s rather wonderful that adjacent to Oxgangs at Colinton Village Patsy's wee shop is still going strong, since her grandfather (T.H. Downes) first opened the business in 1908.

Every few years I drop by convinced the shop will no longer exist, yet I’m always delighted to be proven wrong.

When we spent seven happy years living at West Mill between 1989 and 1996 we used to shop there.

Similar to Patsy's, these shops were always quite basic, with a distinct smell and feel to them and always painted with traditional green paint, usually fading, which all added to their appeal.

Entry for T.H. Downes from the Edinburgh & Leith Postal Directory from over a century ago

I don't think I'd linked the shop with the equally charming T.H. Downes' Nursery Garden and Greenhouses on the other side of the bridge, which we could see from our old West Mill Road kitchen window on the other side of the Water of Leith.

Today I looked in to buy some bananas for tomorrow’s Dundee Duel - note the old worldly till - a treasure - pre-decimalisation!

As ever Patsy was sitting on her stool, with the big old clock ticking, with a paperback to hand - a James Paterson - goodness knows how many books she’s read there over the decades.

I spoke to her and she was saying she’s going for a knee operation shortly, but although a little infirm she’s hardly changed in appearance since I first frequented the shop 30 years ago.

She told me she will be the last member of the family to run the business.