CUSTOMERS past and present are invited to step back in home décor design time and check out an exhibition commemorating 125 years of trading.

Silver Star Decorating & Home Improvement Store, on Subway Road, Barry Dock is hosting the ongoing display detailing the history of the Sylvester family trading.

Displayed in-store are wallpaper patterns from the past 100 years that would have been used in the homes of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents of many Barry people.

The oldest wallpapers on display date back to 1900.

Hundreds of patterns can be viewed stimulating some family memories of home decoration in the past.

Documents include a bill from 1897 for decorating the front bedroom in a home in York Place, Barry.

John Sylvester’s charge for painting the ceiling was nine old pence – equal to four new pence today.

The walls were papered with eight rolls resulting in a charge of six shillings and four pence.

The total charge for decorating the rooms was seven shillings and one penny – equal to 36 pence today.

Examples of Mr Sylvester’s sign-writing include a glass panel sign written in real gold leaf for the Gay family’s funeral directors business, in Cross Street, Barry.

The photographic display includes advertisements for paraffin oil lamps and gas fittings which were once used for lighting homes and there are illustrations of White’s fairground organ at Barry Island.

Buses were also decorated by Sylvester’s and the firm also hand painted the Barry lifeboat.

All are welcome, especially former staff, to visit the store opposite the Barry Dock office.

The store is open from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday and 10am to 1pm on Sunday.