A 200-YEAR-old family business that has served a community from the same shop since it opened in 1786 will be protected by a rare covenant when it goes under the hammer next month.

The last owner of Thompson’s, in Osmotherley near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, fought for assurances that the shop would remain as it was – so it cannot be converted into a cafe or house.

Grace Thompson, now 85, retired from running the village shop nine years ago but insisted that a covenant was written into the sale agreement for the property – a stipulation that was supported by both the Osmotherley Area Parish Council and the North York Moors National Park Authority.

The covenant even states that the shop must retain its original signage and some of its historic features inside.

Estate agent Robin Jessop is selling the property at auction on Wednesday, May 15, along with the family's two-bedroom cottage next door, with a guide price for the shop of £200,000 and £100,000 for the adjoining cottage.

Mr Jessop said: “It was Miss Thompson's wish that it should remain a village shop and the parish council and the National Park have both supported the rare restrictive covenant.

“She imposed the covenant because she did not want to see her family business changed in any way.

“It is an iconic property with a lot of history - it must be the oldest grocery store in North Yorkshire.”

Items from the store went on sale at Tennant’s Auctioneers in Leyburn earlier this year.

Everything from medicine bottles, postcards and advertising displays went under the hammer.

Lots also included a set of large, domed tin tea caddies with painted oriental scenes which were valued at more than £1,000; and a two-and-a-half foot tall tin HP sauce bottle from around 1910.

Edward Thompson opened the shop in his front room in Osmotherley but he soon built his small enterprise into a general store and each successive generation has added to it.

By 1935 the store was described in local press as 'a veritable mini Harrods'.