Experts have traced the businesses roots back through 25 generations to when founder John Balson opened a stall in the town's market on South Street in 1535.
Since then dozens of family members have worked as butchers in the market town, passing their skills down the generations.
And 476 years later, the shop remains a thriving business and has been named Britain's oldest family run retailer.
At that time Henry VIII was still married to Anne Boleyn, the first complete English language translation of the Bible was printed in Antwerp by William Tynedale and Miles Coverdale, and Peru, the Galapagos Islands and Quebec were discovered.
It has been in its present location since 1880, not far from its orginal location.
According to the Institute for Family Business, this makes it the oldest continuously trading family business in Britain.
The firm sells its produce, including 20 varieties of sausages such as els, boar and ostrich,l all over the world, with a large customer base in America.
It also sells exotic fare such as pheasants and guinea fowl but has remained close to its traditional roots.
Until recently the store's owner was Donald Balson, who died this year aged 88.
He said earlier this year: "The love of the job, which has been passed down from generation to generation, is one of the main reasons we have been successful."
His son Richard Balson, 54, said on Thursday: "It's not always gone directly from father to son - sometimes it's gone to a brother and sons but it has been in the family all the time and in January, my son will come into the business to run the online side.
"He's got a son too, so hopefully it'll keep on going. We started up just before the Mary Rose sank just short of Portsmouth harbour.
Read more at The Telegraph
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