Paignton Woolworths – Store 477

63 Victoria Street, Paignton, Devon TQ4 5ED On 22nd July 1932, Woolworths opened in Paignton, ‘the family resort of picturesque Torbay’ as the town is described on vintage railway posters. This was 12 years after the neighbouring Torquay branch opened. Paignton Woolies opened on the former Dellers Hotel site next to the level crossing at Paignton Station,…

Chelmsford Woolworths – Store 355

40 – 41 High Street, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1DF Woolworths opened in the Essex town of Chelmsford in 1929. In the late 20s when Woolworths was rapidly expanding, the chain had started to take over old hotels. In Chelmsford they took over the site of the King’s Head Hotel, a building which had been in…

Hastings Woolworths – Store 251

1-7 Wellington Place, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1NY In July 1926, Woolworths bought the block of 2-6 Wellington Place and 15-20 Pelham. The buildings were demolished (according to the Hastings Chronicle) to build the Woolworths store which opened in 1927. It was an interesting looking building, with four storeys including a roof level with four windows. There were…

Reading Woolworths – Store 111/1180

61/64 Broad Street, Reading RG1 2AJ Woolworths originally opened at 51 Broad Street, Reading in the Spring of 1922, which is where H&M is today. Some pretty fantastic vintage photos of the Reading store have been put up on www.reading-forum.co.uk by markjuk. (http://www.reading-forum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5709&p=51409) THEN: Source: http://readingimages.epixtech.co.uk/loc/1261402.PDF NOW: Source: http://uk-retail.pldbgw-dtz.maximalls.net/dynamic/image/2374271?x=340 The store was expanded to have entrances in Broad…

Aberdare Woolworths – Store 75

4-5 Commercial Street, Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan CF44 7RN Woolworths opened in Aberdare in 1919. This store was the third one to open in Wales. In the below photo from 1965, you can see the store on the left. Source: Francis Frith Shortly after they changed to fascia to the new 1970s style. Source: Media Wales Photos Source: Flickr…

Swindon Woolworths – Store 38

23-24 Regent Street, Swindon, Wiltshire Woolworths opened in Swindon the 12th September 1914 on Regent Street where it traded in a small buildling which was then extended to the left (No, 23) in 1936. Source: 100thbirthday.co.uk Here it is in the 1950s: Source: 100thbirthday.co.uk And the 1960s: Source: 100thbirthday.co.uk There was a refurb in 1973,…

Birmingham Pallasades – Store 1172

1- 2 East Mews, The Pallasades, Birmingham B2 4XA This store opened in the Pallasades Shopping Centre on 31st October 1991. It was the first time Woolworths had returned to Birmingham City Centre after the closure of the Bull Ring and New Street branches back in the 1980s. This photo is from my Facebook group,…