HEXHAM’S flagship department store has endured a tumultuous time in recent years, but this week its closure marked the end of an era for the town’s high street.

Beales, formerly known as Robbs, and renamed last year as Hexham Outlet Centre, had a history in Hexham spanning more than 200 years.

More recently, staff and customers have had to contend with a new format, impending closure and wider troubles facing high street chains.

In April last year, Beales announced it would be closing its Hexham store, with boss Tony Brown citing poor trading and high business rates.

But there was a glimmer of hope when it was announced that instead of closing, it would reopen as Hexham Outlet Centre, which had more retail goods and fewer departments.

Mr Brown said at the time that he could not guarantee its future beyond March, due to the landlord, Buccleuch Property, having plans to redevelop the site. But in January, Beales went into administration. When no buyer was found, Hexham’s was the first store to go.

Beales’ absence will leave a hole in Hexham’s high street, particularly considering that before its demise, it had been a go-to for everything from fashion and beauty to food and toys.

At its peak, Robbs became so popular that another store was built at Alemouth Road, which began trading as Tynedale Park in 1989. That building is now a Tesco.

It was 1818 when William Robb opened the first Robbs shop in Hexham. It moved to the west side of Fore Street in 1890, and to the present site in 1928.

Beales secured a £250,000 deal to buy out Robbs in 2010, after it had already changed hands several times, but high street retail was still in decline and in 2015 the chain negotiated a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) with the landlord to reduce its outgoings.

Despite hanging on through various threats of closure, the company’s administration was the final nail in the coffin. In September, the company said it was keeping 28 members of staff employed at the store, meaning 15 members of staff would be lost. Now the remaining staff have lost their jobs.

Hopes are pinned on the redevelopment of the site, which Buccleuch Property has said will include both residential and retail use, although no dates have been given for work to start.

County councillor for Hexham Central with Acomb, Trevor Cessford, said: “I like to be quite optimistic so hopefully this is a good opportunity to redevelop the area and make it info something a bit more usable and better for the town. All through the country retail is having a bit of a hard time, with the rise of online shopping, and bringing residents into the town centre with residential development is the proven way to go.”