Image of 143 High Street, Guildford branch interior

Photograph of Sainsbury's Guildford High Street store on its opening day, 16th November 1906.

This shop was typical of the counter service shops opened by Sainsbury's from the 1890s until 1939. The tiled walls, marble-topped counters and ceramic floor formed an instantly-recognisable 'house style' which was functional as well as decorative ensuring that, as an 1890s advertisement put it, the shops maintained 'an inviting air of coolness and cleanliness at the hottest season.' The Guildford High Street store was converted to self-service in 1962/3 and continues to trade as a modern supermarket.

The photograph appears in various publications including various issues of JS Journal, and 'The Best Butter in the World' by Bridget Williams.