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Doyleston general store
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TitleDoyleston general store
DescriptionThe first record of George Herbert Hibberd appeared in June 1892 as being the purchaser of an allotment in Arundel and in 1900 there was a G. Hibberd, at a meeting of the householders, voted onto the Arundel School Committee.
George was in Doyleston by October 1909 as he was elected onto the Children’s Committee of the Doyleston Athletic Club. His contribution to the Belgian relief fund at the start of WW1 was fruit which suggests that he was running a shop at that stage.
Hibberd was the owner of a property at the corner of Leeston Rd and Drain Rd on the western side.
The shop was certainly in existence in August 1915 as plans for the alterations to the hall could be seen “at Mr. Hibberd’s shop” and prior to 1916 as at an Ellesmere County Council monthly meeting, Cr Lemon proposed putting a street lamp at the Doyleston corner by George Hibberd’s shop.
Mr. and Mrs. Hibberd were heavily involved in the community serving on the committees of the school, the hall, the park, athletics, and hockey clubs. Hibberd died in September 1927 aged 64.
His wife, Rachael, continued in the shop until May 1930 when it was sold to Maggie and Clarence Turner of Geraldine.
As well as general grocery sales, the Hibberds and Turners provided a boot and shoe repair service, also selling stock such as gumboots and wet weather gear. With a set of scales on the counter and produce in bulk containers, the customer waited while the grocer scooped the food out of bins weighed them, and placed the produce in a paper bag. The cheese was cut from a large block with a wire and wrapped, all the while the grocer and customer chatted.
The Turners also immersed themselves in Doyleston activities serving on many of the committees such as, the library, hall, and park, and Clarence Turner was chairman of the Doyleston School Committee.
In 1937 Council permission was obtained for alterations to the front of the building, these were done by E. Rowley and Sons at a cost of £380.
Clarrie [as he was known] suffered a heart attack in 1949. He was advised to take life easier so the shop was sold and it became Don and Jean McPherson’s Four Square store.
In 1961 the McPhersons bought Ralph Ashcroft’s shop (The Junction Store) over the road as it was larger and it became the Four Square Store.
The other shop was closed down but was used as a residence for the McPhersons.
The Post Office, which was originally in Ashcroft’s shop, had been transferred to a small purpose-built office on the side of Bray’s Motors in 1960.
In 1968, Ted Ruki took over the shop when the McPhersons retired.
The Junction Store was closed in 1970 and a smaller shop was opened at Bray’s Motors which still exists as part of Jack’s Service Centre.
Material from Papers Past and Turner Collection
Lynette West
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date11 June 2020SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDoyleston
DescriptionThe first record of George Herbert Hibberd appeared in June 1892 as being the purchaser of an allotment in Arundel and in 1900 there was a G. Hibberd, at a meeting of the householders, voted onto the Arundel School Committee.George was in Doyleston by October 1909 as he was elected onto the Children’s Committee of the Doyleston Athletic Club. His contribution to the Belgian relief fund at the start of WW1 was fruit which suggests that he was running a shop at that stage.
Hibberd was the owner of a property at the corner of Leeston Rd and Drain Rd on the western side.
The shop was certainly in existence in August 1915 as plans for the alterations to the hall could be seen “at Mr. Hibberd’s shop” and prior to 1916 as at an Ellesmere County Council monthly meeting, Cr Lemon proposed putting a street lamp at the Doyleston corner by George Hibberd’s shop.
Mr. and Mrs. Hibberd were heavily involved in the community serving on the committees of the school, the hall, the park, athletics, and hockey clubs. Hibberd died in September 1927 aged 64.
His wife, Rachael, continued in the shop until May 1930 when it was sold to Maggie and Clarence Turner of Geraldine.
As well as general grocery sales, the Hibberds and Turners provided a boot and shoe repair service, also selling stock such as gumboots and wet weather gear. With a set of scales on the counter and produce in bulk containers, the customer waited while the grocer scooped the food out of bins weighed them, and placed the produce in a paper bag. The cheese was cut from a large block with a wire and wrapped, all the while the grocer and customer chatted.
The Turners also immersed themselves in Doyleston activities serving on many of the committees such as, the library, hall, and park, and Clarence Turner was chairman of the Doyleston School Committee.
In 1937 Council permission was obtained for alterations to the front of the building, these were done by E. Rowley and Sons at a cost of £380.
Clarrie [as he was known] suffered a heart attack in 1949. He was advised to take life easier so the shop was sold and it became Don and Jean McPherson’s Four Square store.
In 1961 the McPhersons bought Ralph Ashcroft’s shop (The Junction Store) over the road as it was larger and it became the Four Square Store.
The other shop was closed down but was used as a residence for the McPhersons.
The Post Office, which was originally in Ashcroft’s shop, had been transferred to a small purpose-built office on the side of Bray’s Motors in 1960.
In 1968, Ted Ruki took over the shop when the McPhersons retired.
The Junction Store was closed in 1970 and a smaller shop was opened at Bray’s Motors which still exists as part of Jack’s Service Centre.
Material from Papers Past and Turner Collection
Lynette West
Ellesmere Historical Society
Date11 June 2020SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDoylestonConnections
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Doyleston general store (11 June 2020). Selwyn Stories, accessed 29/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5302