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 m 2 ), 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. Woolwo...