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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1950s Jukebox - powered by Embassy Records, from the Woolworths Virtual Museum
         
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
Play WB107 Little Things Mean a Lot by Rita Williams Play WB154 I'll never stop loving you by Pearl Carr Play Four in a Chord's version of the Alma Coogan hit Twenty Tiny Fingers Play record WB210, Beryl Templeman singing Lay down your arms (and surrender to me) Play record WB213 and hear the Denny Dennis interpretation of Lullaby of Birdland Play record WB322 and hear Paul Rich's version of the classic Smoke gets in your Eyes Play Maureen Evans' best-seller 'Stupid Cupid' Play Embassy Record WB309 and hear Maureen Evans singing Hoola Hoop. This version made it into the charts before Embassy was banned! Play the Maureen Evans hit Carolina Moon one of the most successful songs on the label Play WB159 and Bob Dale's interpretation of White Christmas. He may not be Bing Crosby but his version did sell more than a million copies! Right click and choose [Save target as...] to download a copy of WB159 White Christmas by Bob Dale Right click and choose [Save target as...] to download a copy of WEP1054 Goodness Gracious Me by Linda Joyce and Matt Bryant Right click and choose [Save target as...] to download a copy of WB309 Hoola Hoop by Maureen Evans Right click and choose [Save target as...] to download a copy of the Maureen Evans best-seller 'Stupid Cupid (stop picking on me) Right click and choose [Save target as...] to download a copy of WB322 Smile by Paul Rich Right click and choose [Save target as...] to download a copy of Lullaby of Birdland by Denny Dennis Right click and choose [Save target as...] to download a copy of Lay Down Your Arms by Beryl Templeman Right click and choose [Save target as...] to download a copy of Twenty Tiny Fingers by Four In A Chord Right click and choose [Save target as...] to download a copy of I'll Never Stop Loving You by Pearl Carr Right click and choose [Save target as...] to download a copy of Little Things Mean A Lot by Rita Williams