Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Historical list of shops in UK Town centres

The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was delete. postdlf (talk) 22:37, 18 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Historical list of shops in UK Town centres[edit]

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I had proposed this article for deletion with the reason "No idea what the actual purpose of this "list" is. Has no contents, just one link. Doesn't seem to be a notable list subject, and a near-infinite one at that (considering that every town centre has had many shops in the course of its history).". The prod was disputed with an explanation on the talk page[1]; but I don't think this is a correct use of Wikipedia, as it comes across as a research project, not a summary of the coverage of an existing subject of interest from secondary sources. Fram (talk) 14:34, 6 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I've also nominated Basildon Town Centre, which is the first of the "feeder" articles for this list, and indicates IMO the kind of problems one runs into. It is a very long list with some sources and lots of original research, on a topic that as a whole hasn't received interest (I can't access basildon.com, as that is reported as an attack site apparently, but it wouldn't be a secondary source anyway). It is not a navigational aid either, since none or next to none of these shops will ever be notable enough for their own articles anyway. Which shops occupied which number at 28 East Walk in Basildon really isn't notable enough to document here. Fram (talk) 14:40, 6 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I am afraid User:Why should I have a User Name? was quicker than you. :-) --Why should I have a User Name? (talk) 14:45, 6 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

(edit conflict)I now note that the second has since received a separate nomination in Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Basildon Town Centre, so I suggest that this page is kept solely to discuss the Historical list of shops in UK Town centres, and that the Basildon article is discussed in its separate discussion page. Apologies for the confusion! Fram (talk) 14:46, 6 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Delete - I agree 100% with the nominator. --Why should I have a User Name? (talk) 14:50, 6 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

The reason for this is show the changing face of the town centre or high street in the Uk. I am in the process of completing the first link - basildon and have several further town centres to add that I have researched it is just the time I need to add them. I aim to research as many town centres as I can. You say they are not notable, but the changing face is shown (which is notable) by the type of retailers that once occupied the town centre, from small local companies to the rather faceless corporate towns we now have. It also shows the changing face of the products on offer - TV rental shops use to be a regular fixture on every UK high street but are no longer seen. So are photography shops. It will also show the gradual departure from town centres of hardwear and electrical retailers. All of this are notable changes in society and are part of social history which should be documented. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, which by definition is a book or books giving information. This is information which is useful to social historians, but is also not recorded elsewhere and would be lost without it being recorded --User:Davidstewartharvey — Preceding undated comment added 16:15, 6 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Note: This debate has been included in the list of United Kingdom-related deletion discussions. • Gene93k (talk) 16:52, 6 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Note: This debate has been included in the list of Lists-related deletion discussions. • Gene93k (talk) 16:52, 6 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

- comment I agree completely, except Wikipedia is not the place for this. Wikipedia is a tertiary source, this is primary research. It might be suitable for Wikiversity. Thryduulf (talk) 11:11, 8 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion so a clearer consensus may be reached.

Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, NorthAmerica¹⁰⁰⁰ 02:03, 14 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Delete. I was actually tempted to put this up for a speedy deletion under category A3, but since a discussion is under way we may as well finish it. It's just going to be a huge piece of original research it seems to me. Undoubtedly interesting as this may be, Wikipedia isn't the place for it. Dylanfromthenorth (talk) 03:43, 14 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Delete. I agree that this doesn't belong in Wikipedia. As a peripheral issue that matters only if this article is kept, if the title of the article is correct, then this article is a list of shops (past or present) located in town centres, not a list of town centres -- so each individual shop must be listed here (and each individual shop must be notable, as indicated by having its own article). If this is a list of town centres, then the existence of shops is pretty much irrelevant (I assume each town centre either has, or once had, at least one shop). --Larry/Traveling_Man (talk) 04:05, 14 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Delete per above. Lugnuts ^{Dick Laurent is dead} 17:57, 14 October 2014 (UTC)[reply]

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.