Welcome to the Original Virtual Museum - celebrating Woolworths' century at the heart of British High Street Shopping
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please click a menu button Original Virtual Museum Home Page please click a menu button The Woolworth value store concept is born in the USA please click a menu button Laying the foundations as the first British Woolworth store opens in Liverpool in November 1909 please click a menu button Woolworths rapidly open forty-four stores in Britain and Ireland before facing a World War please click a menu button Bigger, brighter and bolder Woolworth stores in the Roaring Twenties please click a menu button Woolworths go to amazing lengths to keep all prices under sixpence in the Thirties please click a menu button Bravery and defiance during World War II in Woolworths' finest hour. We pay tribute to the sacrifices made and look behind the scenes please click a menu button Redefining the Woolworth brand for modern times in the 1950s, as prices go up and stores get bigger and bigger please click a menu button Superstores in and out of town, a new own brand and the opening of overseas Commonwealth stores during the 1960s please click a menu button Woolworth struggles to keep up during the rapid inflation and change of the 1970s please click a menu button Woolworth stores in more recent times, covering the period 1980-2008 please click a menu button
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Background to the Original Virtual Museum and copyright information about the contents Origins of the firm's legendary pic'n'mix and a century of chocolate, candy and confectionery in the High Street A century of music and entertainment in the High Street from sheet music and gramophone records to CDs and blu-ray discs A century of toys, games and fun in the High Street stores of F. W. Woolworth A century of fashion in the High Street, from paper patterns and sixpenny knickers to an extensive range of award-winning Ladybird clothing A century of cards, pens, pads and books from the shelves of F. W. Woolworth stores Pots and pans, paint and brushes, bulbs and compost and even toiletries - all in High Street Woolworth stores for much of the twentieth century Woolworths pioneered Christmas decorations in the 19th century and supplied presents for our parents, grandparents and great grandparents from their High Street stores Working conditions and pay rates at Woolworths over a hundred years and some of the people behind the brand-name Our cinema, quiz and picture gallery features Visit the new look 21st century Woolworths on line, on the site operated by Shop Direct Group
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Welcome to the 1910s Gallery in the Original Virtual Museum.

The Woolworth Building - tallest in the world when completed in 1912, and all paid for in nickels and dimes. (Upper image with grateful thanks to the Library of Congress)Changes at the top of the American Woolworths as the friendly rivals merge and Frank Woolworth reaches for the skyThe 1912 $65m dime store merger
The Woolworth Building - tallest in the world
War in Europe causes big changes in America

Woolworths people in the 1910s - at work and at warMeet the team: working for F.W. Woolworth in the 1910s
American recruits for the new British company
Changes at the top on Frank Woolworth's death
Lest we forget - honouring the fallen

In the 1910s Woolworths were at the forefront of a retail revolution which saw customers start browsing in stores rather than only going in to buy, and married women going out shopping without their husbands. 'Now we are six' - stores across the North
Arrival in London - Brixton, Croydon & Peckham
The 44 pioneer stores opened before the Great War
The great war in Picture Postcards from Woolworths
The early impact on British shopping habits

 

 
A century of value retailing in WOOLWORTHS stores in the United Kingdom
 
If you have enjoyed our Virtual Museum website, why not check out our complete history of Woolworths in a 194 page, richly illustrated paperback book? A Sixpenny Romance is just £10.99, with free delivery in our on-line shop.
The special DVD, the Wonder of Advertising, is now available in our on-line shop for £7.50 with free delivery. A fully illustrated 194 page history of Woolworths, or a selection of professionally authored DVDs in our on-line shop