A JEWELLERS shop in Okehampton which has been in the hands of the same family since 1888, has recently been sold through the Exeter office of leading retail business agents Christie and Co. The sale of W J Cornish Jewellers in Fore Street brings to an end more than a century of ownership for the Cornish family. The current owners, Mr and Mrs William Cornish, are retiring from the business and have sold it to Peter Barber from Hove in East Sussex. Mr Barber, who is new to this industry, will continue trade as a jewellery business. This three-storey period property, which includes owner?s accommodation on two upper floors, has a prime trading position in the town?s main shopping street. Jonathan Board, from Christie and Co?s Exeter office, said: ?It is a rarity for such a long established business to change hands, however, we have just sold an even older retail business. Ham andHuddy in Newton Abbot, was established in 1750 and has just been sold to buyers from Teignmouth.? W J Cornish Jewellers was sold for an undisclosed sum from an asking price of £295,000 for the freehold.
