Woolworths
Image taken by myself in 2012 from the BHS carpark.
When it opened in the Spring of 1938, the store on the Promenade at
Bank Hey Street in Blackpool was Woolworth's most ambitious building
ever.
The huge premises dominated the skyline. The icon was visible
for miles along the Fylde coast and right out to sea. The resort on
England's North West coast had become the country's favourite,
attracting millions of tourists each year.
The site was triangular and opened into three streets. The
building was made of glazed, cream bricks with a marble finish. It had
bronze window frames with elaborate bright-work. A clocktower added the
finishing touch. There were three salesfloors, each 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2),
and two 2,000 seat restaurants on further levels. The upper facility
was mainly reserved for private parties, but gave the capacity required
for tourists visiting the town during Wakes Weeks when their local
industry all closed at once. Woolworth offered main dishes for sixpence
(2½p) and a full meal for two shillings (10p) or less. Information from the woolworths website
I have great childhood memories of the toy selection and of course the 'pick & mix' !
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