VILLAGERS in Kilve were coming to terms this week with the loss of their shop and Post Office, which finally stopped trading on Sunday (February 2) after more than 60 years.

Owners Matt and Charlotte Hirst had warned over the past two years that villagers needed to ‘use it or lose it’.

Mr Hirst said: “I honestly never thought it would end this way.

“I thought we would sell it to another family who would continue to run it for many, many years to come.

Matt Hirst, who has now closed Kilve Stores and Post Office.
Matt Hirst, who has now closed Kilve Stores and Post Office. ( )

“I am devastated to be the one to close it.

“It does not seem to matter what we say or do, it never really makes much difference, that age old saying ‘you can lead a villager to the shop, but you cannot make them come in and spend money’.

“We wish we could turn the clock back to when Kilve Stores was a thriving community asset and queuing to be served was expected every morning and we knew the names of most people who lived in the village and surrounding areas.

“We have tried our best to raise awareness and drum up more support, we honestly do not think we can do any more.

“We must now think about ourselves and our family.

“We cannot keep running at a loss throughout the winter months.

Matt and Charlotte Hirst at Kilve Stores
Matt and Charlotte Hirst behind the counter of Kilve Stores and Post Office. PHOTO: George Ody.

“It is a very sad time for us but, we cannot go on making a loss, and the majority of the village and surrounding areas obviously have little to no interest in the village shop or its history.”

Mr Hirst said he had known the shop all his life, having been brought up in East Quantoxhead and gone to school in Williton and Minehead.

He said: “My dad used to bring me and my brother down to Kilve Stores when Mr Barker owned and operated the shop.

“It is so sad that such an amazing and rare village asset, a shop and post office, is gone.”

The couple were given planning permission in December to convert the property to a five-bedroom house, because they wanted to continue living in Kilve.

They commissioned an independent viability report ahead of submitting the planning application ‘to make sure we were making the right decision and clarify why the shop was failing’.

Kilve shop and post office may be converted to a home.
The former shop and Post Office in Kilve could be converted to a home. PHOTO: Architectural Studio SW Ltd. ( )

It revealed 20 per cent of villagers never visited the business and a further 20 per only ever used the Post Office and spent a ‘bare minimum’ when they did.

The report concluded the continued decline of the store and Post Office was part of a widespread and nationwide trend.

Mr Hirst said it had been an honour to buy the business 17 years ago and a privilege to run it and serve the Kilve community.

He ‘whole heartedly thanked’ villagers for their kindness, support, and friendship over the years.

One of Mr Hirst’s last business acts was to transfer more than £1,800 to the Quantock Food Bank and he was also planning to deliver all the shop’s left over stock to the charity.