Henry Monks Chester

[magnummike]

Hi guys I was told the other day that Monks had shut down last week anyone heard anything

[piggy589]

You mean it's taken this long?,thought they'd closed when they moved from foregate street.

Latterly they kept a limited selection of springers, in the preferred calibre sir...... .22

[stevew]

How long were they in business? I used to drool outside their window in Foregate Street when I was in my early teens - more than 50 years ago . . .

[magnummike]

Think they have been open many years my dad bought guns there when he was young and he's 80 now . They moved up the side street alongside Tesco . I bought guns there in the 70s and 80s , a 35e an airsporter S and an AYA No4 12B

[piggy589]

How long were they in business? I used to drool outside their window in Foregate Street when I was in my early teens - more than 50 years ago . . .

That makes two of us,their website states 163 years,my grandad had a twelve gauge side by side hammer gun made by them.

Out taking rabbits with it in his ragged sports jacket,he looked remarkably like Jed Clampett

[deejayuu]

Slightly off topic but related. Always chuckle recalling frequently contacting Arthur Monk, Civil Engineers, by phone.
The young lady would always respond "A Monk. How can I help". Cracked me up every time.

[magnummike]

Was in Chester today and Monks is open , don't know were the guy who told me they were shut but was wrong 😀

[piggy589]

Great ,remind me to call in their Queen Street premises and ask for a .177

[tacfoley]

Since Mrs tac is a real Cestrian, Monks have been a part of our lives for most of her life, and a good portion of mine - I first walked through the little door in Foregate Street some time in 1969. When they moved, and my dear old pal Jim Clark took over, I was an infrequent but worthwhile customer, buying a number of centre-fire rifles and accessories there over the years. When Jim retired, and the two present incumbents took over, I often spent a hour or so just gassing - they were what most of us dream of, a gun shop who knew their customer base like the back of their hands. I would have been very sorry to have discovered that they had gone, without having been able to say goodbye.

[piggy589]

Coopers in Northgate Street anyone?,stockists of the finest BSA and Webley could produce at the time.

Also cheaper eastern European offerings for us kids.