ONE of Skipton's longest surviving independent businesses to remain in the same premises and under the same ownership is closing down.

Markham House has been operating on Court Lane under the keen eye of Clare Shepherd for the last 33 years, but the time has come for her to retire.

It has prided itself on stocking high quality, middle-priced clothing for the 40-plus woman.

Mrs Shepherd said that the business had come a long way since her first day when she sold three pairs of tights to a friend!

Back then the stock was 100 per cent British. However as the country's manufacturing industry has declined, her British clothing stock has depleted to only 10 per cent with the rest made up from fashion houses in countries like France and Germany.

But the range has always been varied and has attracted customers from as far afield as Scotland and Lincolnshire.

Mrs Shepherd added that Skipton had changed significantly during her time in business.

Tourists were now bussed in by the hundreds but tended to head for the charity shops and the markets, she said. The specialist independent shops had slowly gone out of business.

"This is where a town gets its individuality. Not any more," said Mrs Shepherd.

During the store's 33 years only two part-time sales assistants have been employed and Mrs Shepherd's husband, Ian, has helped out with the book-keeping and other behind-the-scenes jobs.

Mr and Mrs Shepherd are now looking forward to a holiday together. "We've never had holidays apart from weekends and our silver wedding," said Mrs Shepherd.

She is also looking forward to carrying on with her Soroptimists work, continuing with her computer course and spending more time gardening.