Including a Post Office Local
10.30am-1.00pm & 1.30pm-4.00pm (Mon-Fri)
9.00am-12.30pm (Sat)
History
110 years of the Gorsley Shop
In living memory, Gorsley has always had a village shop at same location on the main road. The Post Office, however, has had many locations . Currently there are four houses named the 'Old Post Office' within the village!
1897...
In 1897, Royal Stores opened, named after local 'worthy' Royal Cracknell, who paid for the building.
The shop did not become a Post Office until the 1950s.
1998...
In 1998, Diane and Gordon Martin took over the business and served the community for 19 years.
With a view to retiring the business had been for sale for several years but with no buyers being found.
2018...
On 24th August 2017, the former shop closed and was converted back into a private house.
The community immediately came together and worked on creating Gorsley Community Shop which, with the support of a Prince's Trust Countryside Fund, opened on Saturday 1st September 2018.
2020...
In addition to our Community Shop and Post Office, we now have a wonderful children's play park, a coffee house and a relaxing orchard on the site. Come and see for yourself and enjoy this engaging and relaxing community space.
How we got here
The shop and Post Office was established as a community company/enterprise. A team of a people from the community and Gorsley Baptist Church got together to plan the project, consulting with local people about the services and products they would like to see.
When we started out we were told it could take between two and 10 years to achieve our vision. It is testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment of a great many people that we were able to open the door on 1st September 2018 – just one year after the former shop closed.
That support has continued ever since then. The intention has always been that the shop covers its costs so that it can be sustainable, with any profit being reinvested to help keep costs reasonable. Happily, we have been able to achieve this, but it's safe to say that it wouldn't be possible without our fantastic team of shop volunteers who continue to serve in the shop every day.
The 'Hub' vision
Right from the start, the shop and Post Office was just one part of a bigger vision of Gorsley Baptist Church to create a hub that would meet the many needs of a rural community.
Now we also have a coffee house, children's play area, recreation ground and orchard on the same site, making Gorsley somewhere people can meet, relax and spend time with their friends and family.
In fact, Gorsley has come quite a 'destination' and we even have people choosing us over the motorway services when travelling along the M50.
Gorsley Baptist Church's other community activities
The church premises are used throughout the week for other activities. It is hoped that together with the shop this will further enhance community interaction
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Short Mat Bowls (Mon / Thur)
Monday and Thursday afternoons
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Beehive and Community Lunch (Wed)
Wednesday lunch followed by speaker
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Acorn Toddlers (Thurs)
10.15-11.45am; parents and toddler group
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Buzz and Zones (Friday)
6-7.15pm U11s club (range of fun activities)
