It’s the end of an era for Pauline Connelly as she sells up the shop on the Bank in Barnard Castle which has been in her family for three generations. She talks to Nicky Carter about her time behind the counter...
PAULINE Connelly has lived and breathed toys all her life working in the family business, Connelly’s Toyshop, on The Bank in Barnard Castle, since she was tall enough to see over the counter.
After a life time in the toy industry, she is hanging up her skipping ropes having taking the decision to sell the shop.
“It was the right time. I have done my chapter here and wanted someone else to have their own story with the shop,” she said.
She is the third generation of her family to run the business which was started by her grandfather Jack Ascough more than 90 years ago.
Pauline added: “Great granny Ascough was at the bottom of The Bank and they had a printers. Granddad also went into printing but moved up The Bank buying No 9 in 1934. Every year he would hire the hall at the Turks’ Head and do a toy sale before Christmas.”
Back then the shop also sold tobacco, gramophone records as well as a selection of sporting goods including tennis racquets.
After the Second World War, the business expanded into the next-door premises at number 11, to concentrate on toys. Initially called Toyshop of Teesdale, the business became known as Connelly’s Toyshop after Pauline’s parents, Dennis and Eileen Connelly, were married.
Pauline said: “When mum and dad got married, they got number 11 and mum insisted the Connelly name went above the door.”
They expanded the premises further to create a bike showroom in the late seventies and with such a large shop the family employed a number of assistants.
Pauline said: “Over the years, we had more than 70 assistants and quite a lot of Saturday girls and boys. Dulcie Harrison, the late Frank Harrison’s mum worked here, as did Maureen Gee, Lilian Patterson and June Bland.”
There was never any question she would join her parents in the business. “I did fancy being a doctor at one point, but I joined mum and dad in the business straight out of school. I had been working there since I could see above the counter.”
In fact, even as a baby Pauline was in the shop, in a high chair nestled among the dolls. She took over running the business in the mid-nineties when her parents retired after more than 30 years.
Even in retirement they still helped out in the shop which has sold every type of toy from bicycles and skateboards, through to itching powder, model aircraft kits, cards, dolls, board games, sports equipment as well as fireworks.
Pauline said: “We’ve sold all sorts over the years, but we didn’t go down the computerised toy route. It wasn’t my generation. The kids still wanted to play games. For me, my favourite toy growing up was a yo-yo.”
However, during Covid lockdowns four years ago, she embraced technology creating and posting videos to social media.
She added: “Although the shop was closed, I was still getting up and coming into the shop, wondering what to do. I was finding myself dusting everything every day, so I started the videos. I thought if customers can’t come to me, I’ll take the toys to them.
“I worked through lockdown doing the videos to keep the shop in the limelight. I still do them and still get people liking the videos from all over the world. There’s one guy in Qatar that keeps in touch and another lady in Canada.”
With a tear in her eye she says she will miss the business, but felt time was right to make a change.
“It’s going to be a big change as it’s been six days a week, plus all the behind the scenes stuff and that’s all my working life. It’s not just standing trying to look pretty behind the counter, there’s a lot more to it and I thought it was time for a change.”
The sale of the property is expected to take place in early November.
“It is still going to be a toy shop,” she said. “The new owners are going to shut for a revamp and then reopen before Christmas.”
