England’s oldest bicycle shop and Charles Darwin’s vendor of choice will close its doors for the final time at the end of this month, ending its 173-year history in Cambridge.

Howes Cycles on Regent Street is shutting down because its owner, 65-year-old Michael Howe, is going into retirement. This ends six generations of the Howe family business which began in 1840 with John Howe, who was a coach-builder and wheel-wright.

According to family legend, Michael Howe’s great-great-grandfather John visited a Paris exhibition in 1869 and came across a new invention, the bicycle.  He returned to Cambridge inspired and built his own, which he named Granta.

The shop continues to be popular with students and locals. Many have paid tribute on Twitter, with fond memories of a shop which prided itself on excellent customer service. Olympic triathlete Will Clarke expressed his sadness: “Shame to see Howes Cycles…closing. It's where I bought my first race bike. Dawes Giro 200!”

When the shop first moved to its current premises on Regent Street in 1971 the Cambridge News said that the new owners had “a fetish for service and in the new premises they have set up a modern fully equipped workshop capable of undertaking repairs and service to any make of cycle.” 

Michael Howe and his wife Pat are now gearing up for retirement. On their website they extend a word of thanks “to our valued customers for your support and loyalty over the years.”

There is no chance of another owner at Howes Cycles. Speaking to the Cambridge News, Howe said: “[I]f your surname is not Howes then you are not taking over”.