A much-loved independent shop in Ipswich has closed its doors after three decades in the town centre.
Sacred Earth, a shop specialising in magical, spiritual and natural healing products, has closed its doors in Upper Orwell Street.
Opening in 1993, Sacred Earth is the brain child of Anthony Moorhouse and Nigel Pearson.
Mr Moorhouse said: "We have been thinking about closing for the last five or six years.
Anthony Moorhouse, co-owner of Sacred Earth (Image: Contributed)
"We didn't want to get to retirement age and then close the shop, we wanted a bit of space to do other things and now is an ideal time to do that.
"As you get older and people around you are no longer there, it makes you realise that life is very short and you have to make the most of it.
"If you have a shop, you have to be there when you say it is open and on nice days like this, you just think I could be at the beach and enjoying that but I am at a shop.
"We wanted more freedom."
Often hailed Ipswich residents as one of their favourite independent shops, not just in the town but in Suffolk too, Sacred Earth has drawn visitors from across the world to the shop due to how specialist the shop is.
Sacred Earth in Upper Orwell Street (Image: Sacred Earth)
Mr Moorhouse continued: "When we moved here 30 years ago, Upper Orwell Street was thriving.
"There was a really good book shop, art galleries, health food shop and it was a busy street.
"It's become quieter. We've had some really lovely customers who have been really supportive and we are going to miss them a lot but you have to do what's best for you."
While this is the end of the physical shop, Sacred Earth will continue to sell online through their website and Etsy, with Mr Moorhouse doing more with The Elvish Tailor, and the duo writing a book together.
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