Remembering Woolies ...

UNLESS you’re aged in single figures you’ll probably remember Woolworths.

Woolworths was once as much a part of the British high street as the paving stones and lampposts.

There were once more than 800 Woolworths stores on high streets across the UK.

For decades ‘Woolies’ was the place you went for records, toys, children’s clothes, books, magazines and the famous ‘pick and mix’.

It was a British institution even though it began as a division of the American FW Woolworth Company.

We thought Woolworths was immortal – but it wasn’t.

In November 2008, the chain went into administration and by January 2009, all 807 Woolworths stores were no more.

Woolworths at Victoria Lane, in the town centre (pictured), closed in January 2009 with the loss of 40 jobs.

But the buildings which housed Woolies mostly remained housing new businesses.

Here’s what they are now.

■Huddersfield: Woolies once stood at 30 Victoria Lane. It’s now a Poundland.

■Brighouse: There was once a Woolworths at 33 Commercial Street. Now it’s a Store Twenty One clothing outlet.

■Heckmondwike: Once there was a Woolies at 95/99 Market Street. Today it’s Four Seasons fashion and discount store.

■Dewsbury: The Woolworths at 5/7 Market Place is now a Quality Save budget store.

■Batley: Where Woolies once stood at 39/45 Commercial Street is now a JBM Bargains store.