It is one of Durham’s busiest streets and has changed dramatically over the years.
Silver Street has a rich history and sits in the heart of Durham , with its name believed to have come from being the site of a mint that printed Durham coins. It is believed to have originally been called Smith Gate due to blacksmiths working in the area.
Over the years high street retailers have come and gone, with M&S closing its doors in 2018 marking a turning point as more retailers also struggled on the high street.
Big names such as Topshop, Carphone Warehouse, M&Co, Clintons, Superdry and Hotter also went on to shut their doors. At one point the city had the fourth highest rate of shop closures in the UK with 21 shops shutting in six months, according to new research.
At its peak more than a dozen units were empty on Silver Street, but retail guru Graham Soult, who is ranked as one the UK’s top retail experts, says this is now in the “low single figures”. Graham was brought in after the coronavirus lockdown and says the revival is largely down to independent businesses opening on the street.
Graham said independent businesses such as Moon Jewellery, Durham Ginstitute and Treats have upgraded to more prominent premises, with brands such as Grape Tree and Tortilla sitting alongside them.
Now, the street will enter a new phase as work beings on STACK Durham in the former M&S building. It will create a new entertainment and cultural hub in the city centre
Here we look at pictures of the street over the years and some of the retailers who have come and gone.