An unearthed image of a past Broad Street store has resulted in a huge public reaction. 

E Hill & Son closed on January 5, 1974, and the picture above shows the crowds queueing up for the closing sale that Saturday. 

The memory of the once beloved store caused numerous people to draw comparisons to what Reading's centre is like today.

One person said "All we’ve got now in Reading is umpteen coffee and cafes shops not worth going really.

"We only go in for John Lewis thank goodness that's still there and I’m not well off but love the only really good department store in Reading!"

In agreement with the previous comment, another person wrote "The shops Reading was Great for of what I can Remember was co-op, littelwoods, CA, British home stores, Debenhams, the old fashioned restaurant in helas and the oasis restaurant behind helas and the ice cream shop that was near the church.

"Reading was lovely and was clean back then."

The shop that occupied 38 Broad Street is now home to WH Smiths which has remained in business on the high street for many years.

Since the shop was remembered on social media after 50 years of closure, many took to the comment section of the article to share their memories of the iconic store.

One user wrote "Yes, I worked in the toy department for a while. When collecting from stock room a friendly mouse bit my finger."

Another person said "I worked in hills' Toy department from 1968 until It closed. Enjoyed every day of it."

A further person wrote "Loved the toy department and the large glass counter with all the toy soldiers on display."

Mr Neil Klopke posted this photograph of the remembered store along with its history on social media.

Ebenezer Hill originally opened his leather merchants at 25 Broad Street in about 1883 and enjoyed early success for the duration of his time there.

But when the building was demolished to make way for the Capital & Counties Bank (now Lloyds Bank) he moved to 38 Broad Street and stayed there until the shop’s closure 70 years later.

He had the shop rebuilt in about 1903 as we see it here and the building has remained very much the same throughout the last century.

Mr Klopke wrote “The business became E Hill & Son Ltd and later expanded to sell baby wear, prams and pushchairs, and, most importantly, toys upstairs, which most locals will surely remember.”