It has never been easier to listen to your favourite song or discover new bands thanks to the internet and streaming services but for many music fans the accessibility will never replace the magic of visiting a shop to buy a single or album.

The growing number of people choosing to buy vinyl means record shops are becoming an increasingly common sight in towns up and down the country once again, having been a key feature of high street life for many years – including in Rickmansworth.

Strawberry Fields was opened by legendary DJ Tony Blackburn in its first premises in Penn Place in 1968 and it was to become a popular destination with local music lovers for many years.

A view of Rickmansworth High Street in the summer of 1996A view of Rickmansworth High Street in the summer of 1996 (Image: Watford Observer)

It had moved to High Street, next to Lunn Poly travel agents, by August 1996 when a Watford Observer photographer visited the town to take these pictures.

The Penn Place store once occupied by Tesco boarded upThe Penn Place store once occupied by Tesco boarded up (Image: Watford Observer)

These images show that Penn Place’s days were numbered though, with many of the shops – including the unit once occupied by Tesco – boarded up.

Only one shop in Penn Place appears not to shut down by August 1996Only one shop in Penn Place appears not to shut down by August 1996 (Image: Watford Observer)