A ‘deep sadness’ has hit Sidmouth high street this week as Govier’s of Sidmouth will close its doors after 104 years.

Consumer demands and changes in the china industry has resulted in owner Alan Morgenroth deciding to close the shop to focus on the business’s catalogue and mail order services.

The fine china shop, which is believed to be the fourth oldest in the town, will shut by the end of 2018 after more than a century as a global name.

Mr Morgenroth, who has owned the business for the past 34 years, said: “It is with considerable sadness that the decision has been taken to close Govier’s of Sidmouth shop by the end of 2018. At the present time, it is hoped that our catalogue and mail order business will continue and will relocate to suitable office and warehouse facilities.

“Sidmouth has done us proud over the years and it is sad that it’s changed. From my perspective it’s still a lovely town to work in but it’s not attracting the same people that it used too.

“It will mean some redundancies. Hopefully there will be potential for some of them to carry on with the mail order, if we can find suitable premises and we get continued support from our suppliers.

The High Street store was opened by Ada and William Govier in 1904 after William converted three thatched cottages to create his wife’s dream china shop.

Their son Norman joined as a partner in the business in 1929 and ran it until his retirement in the 1970s.

Mr Morgenroth’s parents June and Kurt bought the shop in 1978 before the businessman took over the management in November 1983.

Over the course of the next three decades, Govier’s became the world’s largest single outlet for Royal Crown Derby china and exports its wares to more than 30 countries.

Mr Morgenroth said: “Our loyal customers are very disappointed, we do intend to carry on with our mail order. We won’t be going completely.

“We made Govier’s a name that is known around the word, not only locally.”

Are you sad to see Govier’s go? What are your memories of the shop or what do you think this means for Sidmouth’s high street?