Built in 1912, this is the oldest building in the village and originally housed the Oak Bay Grocery and Post office. Edward Richards was both proprietor and Post Master and lived over the shop.

In the early 1970s, Mr. and Mrs. George Ferguson established an antique shop in the dining room area and Canada Trust leased the space that is now our main entrance and tea service area. In about 1975, the Fergusons decided to turn their antique shop into a small tea room. Previously, George had been an ordained Parson in Scotland, and coincidently, his bride’s maiden name was Parsons. Thus, they decided they should name their tea room “The Parson’s Blethering Place.”

(According to Oxford, “blethering” is Scottish for. . . “voluble senseless talking”!)

In 1981, Ken Agate, newly arrived from New Zealand, purchased the tea room business and in conjunction with the owners of the building, John and Sally Wood, set about a major renovation. The name was shortened to ‘The Blethering Place’ and blossomed into a popular meeting place for locals as well as a destination for international tourists. After thirty years of as The Blethering Place, Ken sold the business, but can still be found here enjoying a chat with friends old and new.