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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Digital interactive model of a Woolworths store sixty years ago
 
View the store front and exterior photos Christmas Decorations and Wrapping Paper Take a look at the Sweets and Ice Cream Displays The pic'n'mix and sweets (candy) counters Toiletries and cosmetics Pictures, artificial flowers and fancy goods Take a look at the toy department, 1950s style. Embassy Records in the Woolworths music department Wool and haberdashery at Woolworths in the 1950s Greetings Cards, Stationery and Books China and Glass displays including the legendary black and white Homemaker Design The staircase up to the restaurant The upstairs cafeteria (restaurant/tea bar) on a balcony/mezannine floor Clothing, including Kidswear, Ladieswear, Menswear and Hosiery Kitchenwares - pots, pans, buckets, bowls and cleaning materials Food and groceries department Paint, household and home repair - the birth of DIY at Woolworths in the 1950s Help in using the Digital Interactive store and more information Pictures of the store being rebuilt after World War II
 
Please click a counter in the 3D store plan above to see what that part of a Woolworth store looked like in the 1950s ....
 

Click here for help using the interactive store
 

By clicking on the model above you can see pictures of the interior of a large Woolworths store sixty years ago.  Each group of counters has its own set of pictures, as well as the outside and the restaurant. You can find out how this page works by clicking the store name sign.

In case your browser doesn't support the interactive map technology, we've also included conventional hyperlinks below.
 
 
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