Tissimans in Bishop's Stortford to close after 400 years trading

A shop which has been trading as a "men's clothing establishment" for more than 400 years is to close.

Slaters opened as a tailor, draper and undertaker on Bishop's Stortford in 1601, before it became Tissimans at some point before the late 1800s.

Freddy Cole, who has been director at Tissimans for six years, said the recession had made it "increasing difficult over the past few years".

Four employees will lose their jobs when the shop closes on 28 February.

Mr Cole said Tissimans had suffered since the recent closure of the town's Pearsons department store and Clement Joselyne furniture shop.

"This has reduced the footfall of shoppers in the town," he said.

"With the existing lease coming to an end we can't justify extending it."

Mr Cole said he had no alternative but to close the store.

"We did go away and explore every avenue to find help or cut costs, but it's too much of a risk to carry on," he said.

Mr Cole said two Coles menswear stores run by his company, WE Coles Ltd, in Epping and Uckfield would be unaffected by Tissimans' closure.

Part of the Bishop's Stortford shop dates back to about 1360 and was added to in the mid 16th Century.

Local historian Helen Gibson, who has lived in Bishop's Stortford for 50 years, said: "The shop was the prime tailors in the district and had served members of the Royal Family and Henry Moore.

"It will be greatly, greatly missed."