The original building is clearly seen on some of the very early seafront scenes.

It remained for about 20 years until the business moved to Waterloo Square in the 1840s when Miss Augusta Binstead and her sister operated it.

One of Gerard Young's articles reported: "Bognor men remember Burgess's as a wonderland of childhood; the place where you saw the first marvels of Meccano, Hornby train and the Atalanta kite."

This was also the shop that sold souvenirs including those little pieces of crested china.

They also published postcards and books of photographs of the area.

By the late 1860s, a Henry Townsend ran the business but most people will remember the site best when it became known as the Burgess's Bazaar, when James Reeve Burgess took over the business in the late 1870s.

In 1929, Queen Mary reputedly paid three visits to the shop while staying at Craigweil House.

It is reported that she bought a bucket and spade for her granddaughter – today's Queen.

There is another report that during the second world war, when a German aircraft was returning home, it fired off a burst of bullets.

One of these bullets went through the window in Burgess's Bazaar and landed in the body of a doll.

Burgess's Bazaar and library soon became an essential part of Bognor seaside life and was at its most popular when James's son, Robert Briant, ran the business. It continued in the Burgess family until 1951 when it was run by Robert's brother and sister, William and Ethel.

It remained operating for many years, but under the name of Burgess Toy Emporium.

Mr Harry York and business partner bought the premises from the Burgess family in 1951 and ran it until 1968 when it finally closed as a toyshop.

In the Kelly's Directories of 1953 and 1964, it is listed as Burgess Toy Emporium stating it was agents for 'Meccano, Hornby, Triang and Corgi toys'.

Recently, a reader wrote to the paper recounting memories of this shop, reminding people of the toy bear, which sat on a bicycle above the entrance to the shop.

From 1902, the Burgess Toy Emporium had a rival – Toyland – in the newly-opened shopping arcade in the centre of town.

A report in the Bognor Observer of 1903 mentions Toyland as being 'a veritable enchanted spot for the youngsters, being exceptionally well stocked with toys in innumerable variety.

There are dolls in all manner of dress, clockwork and mechanical toys and games in perfusion'.

There was also a royal visit to this shop on March 2, 1929, by Queen Mary, when shopping for the first time during her stay in the area.

Her Royal Highness Princess Mary and Princess Louise accompanied Queen Mary where they purchased a number of articles for a dolls' house.

One of the early advertisements for Toyland stated it was 'one of the smartest toyshops in the provinces' – some accolade.

In 1938 the shop was taken over by Margaret Hunt and her sister and they retained it for 35 years, eventually selling the business to Mr Michael Harvey.

Sadly the 75th anniversary of the Toyland shop in the Arcade was celebrated with the closing of the store on December 16, 1977.

Apparently the shop could no longer compete with the much larger, cut-price stores and increased rents prevented it from being a profit-making establishment.

With the change in seafront developments, the summer trade had also changed. The Arcade used to be a thoroughfare to the seafront, and some traders thought it had become more of a dead end, not leading shoppers through its shops.

Each Christmas, the Arcade was decorated and would have created great excitement for children. Around 1910, there was a commissionaire named Mr Randall who became Father Christmas, providing a bran tub of excitement for children at 6d a dip.

Another famous enterprise for children, and remembered by many, was Goodacres on the corner of York Road and the Esplanade.

One write-up about the shop mentioned it sold fairy cycles and pedal cars, which would not entice children today to the shop.

Goodacres also had a second store at 46 London Road, which sold nursery and kindergarten apparatus and toys. Along the High Street in 1969 there was the well-known butchers, Parfremants.

It closed down and the premises bought, demolished and rebuilt into the shop it is today.

In 1972 this new shop opened in the town, known as Gamley's toyshop.
Until recently, Gamley's advertising stated 'welcome to our world of toys' and it did just that.

Hornby and Meccano toys are still sold as in the 1960s, with other favourites such as Lego, Playmobile and Fisher Price toys being prominent.

The toyshop was part of a national company trading as a World of Toys.
This company was founded in Hove in 1919.

However the increase in today's use of the internet for shopping, with Gamley's having its own on-line site, out-of-town stores and the decline in traditional toys, the business folded.

Many stores have diversified and sell toys alongside other products, but it will be the earlier, local stores that will retain happy memories for so many.

Could it be said that it's the first time in 185 years that Bognor Regis does not have a specialist toy shop?


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