Ghostly memorials to past closures remain empty: witness the huge buildings that are still vacant after the implosion of Debenhams in 2021. But perhaps the most heartbreaking stories are those of archetypal local businesses that weathered plenty of past economic storms, but have now given up. Trowbridge, the county town of Wiltshire, has a perfect example: the wonderfully named HJ Knee, a home and electrical business that has traded for nearly 150 years, but has now closed its physical outlet on a local trading estate, where it moved from the town centre 12 years ago. The reasons? The rise of online shopping, rising business rates and, according to the store’s general manager, a lack of support for independent retailers.