Last week’s Now and Then picture showed Reynolds which extended over 149, 150 and 151 Commercial Street.

Reynolds used to sell drapery and complete house furnishings at its shop. It is now the bank TSB.

This is Reynolds department store on the corner of Charles St and Commercial St. The windowsills on the Charles St side were curved; cast bronze panels with the shop name in raised and polished letters.

On the opposite corner of Charles St was the Talbot Inn which dated from early Victorian times.

A little further up from the Talbot was the Empire Theatre which burnt down in the early 1940s. The act playing on the night of the fire was the pianist Charlie Kunz, the schoolboy story was that he was a German spy and that it was he that started the blaze.

Dave Woolven, Malpas Park, Newport

The Now and Then picture is of Commercial St and the TSB Band is on the corner and around Charles Street. Next to the Bank is Clinton Card Ship.

The TSB Bank was once Reynolds Dress shop. Across the road is the Body Shop which was the Talbot Pub and Superdrug is there. But Woolworths use to be there – opposite is Lloyds Band and Clarks show shop, on the corners of Llanarth Street.

Mrs M. Reardon Newport