Our History

An isolated, rural village, Nenthead was self sufficient with its own shop and post office – however when the owners retired it stood empty for three years, and local had to make a 10 mile round trip to buy even a simple bottle of milk.

But this is a community that’s determined to provide for all its residents – those without a car or the children who can’t drive and those who want to reduce their carbon footprint.

The residents of Nenthead missed their shop. When it became obvious that Nenthead would lose the old shop they decided that the only thing to do was to run one themselves.

Over the summer they came together the community created a new shop – based in the Nenthead Reading Room which belongs to the Over 60s Club.

In a rural community like Nenthead a shop is more than just a place to buy groceries. It’s where you find out the news and especially for people without transport, it’s the main place where you meet others and can have a chat.

And the shop has given a new lease of life to the Reading Room which has a long history of community use.

Funding was received from the Cumbria County Council regeneration fund, CRISP, The Plunkett Foundation, ViRSA, Alston Moor Community Chest, Eden District Council, Business with Altitude and Voluntary Action Cumbria and a loan from the Co-operative Finance Group.

Local people helped to decorate, erect shelves and fit out the shop.

Most importantly they are using the shop and making suggestions about what they’d like to buy.

The Official Opening was performed by May Richardson, Nenthead’s oldest resident, December 3, 2012.

Today The Village Shop Nenthead employs three part-time staff who keep the shop open seven days a week.