'Long-lost brother' of Charlie the Chimp from beloved Northampton shoe shop window is here to delight

A familiar face has stepped out of Northampton's past to delight residents again from the view of a humble shop window.

Countless people from Northampton will have fond memories of Charlie the Chimp, the tireless toy monkey who entertained passersby from the window of Gordon Scott Shoes in Abington Street during the 1980s and 1990s.

Charlie, in fact, took over from his older brother Alfie the Ape, who was swinging in the shop window since the 1960s.

Charlie was retired in 2007 to Watford Museum. while Alfie is waiting to become a star exhibit in when Northampton Museum and Art Gallery reopens.

But now, there's a new monkey in town.

As of this week, in the window of The Old Bakehouse Antique Centre in Abington Avenue, Charlie and Alfie's long lost brother has stepped out the past to delight passersby once again.

He is here today because of the secret efforts of shopowner Steve Culverhouse and his friends who have been renovating him for the past 18 months - after he was found in a household garage in Moulton.

Steve said: "I'm told the garage had no roof and he was soaked through when he was found.

"My friends, Jonny Sessions and Maria Broome, found him. When he called me I was delighted. I'm 60 years old and even I remember looking at the monkey in the window. Every time I look at him I just smile. He's wonderful.

"He must have such a story. I wonder where he's been and what he's seen."

As the owner of the Old Bakehouse Antiques Centre, Steve and his wife Kim pride themselves on preserving and restoring treasures from Northampton's past - and this find was like no other.

When he was brought in, the monkey was in a state. His motor was broken, his hands and fur were ruined, and even the two trees he swings between were stripped down to nothing but bare poles.

So Steve and his mates got to work.

He said: "Aasen Stephenson rebuilt his hands and created a new pair of trees for him.

"And the lads from CDS Rewinds Ltd in Ash Street gave up their time to wind him and fix his motor for free, which is such an undertaking. Their only condition was they would be there to see him go for the first time."

Now, after 18 months of careful repairs, the familiar monkey has debuted in the Bakehouse's shop - and residents can see him every day.

Steve says he is will be opening the shutters every day between 10am and 5pm so passersby can look and see, even though the shop has to remain shut for Covid.

One member of the public who walked past the window told the Chron it felt like seeing Charlie leap from the past.

She said: "I've got this warm feeling inside just looking at him and remembering the 1980s.

"I used to work just opposite him on Abington Street, I saw him every day. It just shows you the power of memory."

Steve says he hopes to see the shop window monkey make a name for himself in the town by raising money for charity, and is already booked as a feature at the next Rockin Roadrunner summer concert in Abington Street.

He said: "He won't be owned, he will be for sharing. We just want to save some of Northampton's history."