138 Commercial Street, Maesteg, Mid Glamorgan CF34 9DW
Woolworths opened in the Welsh town of Maesteg in 1927. It was on Commercial Street, next to A E Lockyer & Son. This is an early staff photo sent in by Richard Northover. The photo was sent to his late father (who was store manager in the 1960s) by a long retired District Manager called Keith Doel.
Source: Northover R.
He also has a copy of the 1934 Pictorial Record, showing Mr Barclay being the store manager in 1934. In that edition, it says there were 600 stores, of which 2% of the store managers were ladies – Woolworths at the forefront of equality!
Below you can see the front of the store, possibly from the 1960s – I am guessing from the style of the cars. Next door you can see Lockyer’s and in between Woolworths and Lockyer’s was an alleyway leading to a snooker hall.
Source: Facebook
Below is Richard’s father Mr D. Northover from the 1964 Pictorial Record. He was the store manager of Maesteg from 1961 – 1965, and he was aged 39 in this photo. Richard was a Woolies child, born in 1960, as his mother was also a Woolworths employee. One of his childhood memories is “…this was the store where, once I was tall enough at the age of 4/5, I was taught how to press the buttons on the cardboard bailer in the stockroom. No health and safety concerns then!”
Below is a staff photo from 1968, when the store manager was Terry Williams, who took over from Mr. Northover.
Source: Facebook
In May 1983 Richard Northover became the store manager of Maesteg, working there until 1986. He says, “The team that worked for my Dad mostly also worked for me albeit 20 years older!”
Former employee Louise Jeffery shared some 90s photos on Facebook page Maesteg Memories and you can read lots of happy memories of the store on that page. What I love about this photo, apart from cool Auntie Pam being Santa, is seeing the products on the shelves, and the SALE point of sale.
Source: Jeffery L.
The store lasted until the end, closing in December 2008.
It became a shop called Richleys Stewarts for a short while, but today it is Peacocks. It is interesting if you compare with the black and white photo above, there used to be little half-windows just above the fascia. Next time you are shopping in Maesteg Peacocks, now you will know you are in a former Woolworths!
Woolies Buildings - Then and Now 
Hi Sabrina , Terry Williams I knew very well he was the manager of 440 Cardiff when I was in Maesteg in the 80’S.I always remember him telling me when Maesteg was modernised in 1971
It broke his heart when a workman grabbed a sledgehammer an threw it straight through the lovely old windows!
Ashfelt and cheap tiling was put over the old wooden floor which when i arrived in 83 was rotting
And the floor collapsing.We were closed for 10 days to rip it all up concrete and tile over and then re fixture.
The stockroom had a wooden floor that creaked as you walked on it and i’m sure the old wooden racking had woodworm ! We had a burglary and the police sent in a dog to the stockroom to check,it left us a nice present to clear up 8n the morning.
Kitty Ellis was the Office Cashier , Lorraine Jones the Staff Supervisor. Dot Anderson and Beryl
Store supervisors.Menna on confectionery ,Anne on toiletries and Chrissy Miller in the office
Are just some of the team i remember well.
Your first store as a manager is always special with great memories and the Welsh valley people
And community were fantastic even during the 1984 miners strike.A bustling town which lije
So many towns looks forlorn these days
The old lockyers store next store was eventually demolished as it was unsafe so the overhang
Over the alley where i parked disappeared.Oh happy memories
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Thank you so much for sharing your memories, you have really brought the store to life!
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I took over as Store Manager in about 1990. I too recall some of these staff members. Chris Miller and Lorraine Jones in particular. I seem to recall that Beryl became unwell and left us.
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Thank you for sharing 🙂
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