Perhaps of all the shops which have come and gone in the village, the most interesting was that owned by Ada Rainbow.
It is known that in the 1930’s, when the number of shops in Burnhope was at its peak, Ada Rainbow owned an old railway carriage, situated at the bottom corner of the cricket field, below the bank. From here she sold sweets, cigarettes and groceries. She continued this business until the premises were condemned due to unhygienic conditions (mice running freely around her goods!)
Ada lived opposite her railway carriage at Number 1 The Avenue, which was the first house in a terraced row of eight. She moved her stock into the front room of her home and continued to trade.
Ada was very popular with children and young people. She always welcomed company and youngsters would frequently sit with her, playing cards and smoking cigarettes, which she sold singly. Apparently she never appeared to be closed, people would knock on her door to buy things at all hours. Ada sold sweets for a halfpenny and four for a penny. It wasn’t unusual for women to have shops in their homes. Housewives would make cinder toffee, toffee apples and simple sweets, then display them in their kitchen window. Children would sometimes have to stand on a box in order to see what was on offer. Pay day for miners was once a fortnight, and these were very busy days for sweet pop-up shops.
