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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The finest that Woolworths coulld sell - a stick with a horse's head handle

The Lion and Albert
Teddy Williams's version of the Stanley Holloway classic on Woolworths own Eclipse Records 

Eclipse Gramophone Record of the Lion and Albert from about 1932. The vocal was performed by Teddy Williams
 

"The Lion and Albert" a monologue made famous by Stanley Holloway was recorded for Woolworths by Teddy Williams back in 1932.  His accent is best described as Lancashire meets Yorkshire on a train to Essex, but the result is still quite fun.
 
 

Quick Links to other exhibits in the Original Virtual Museum

1930s Gallery Home

1930s openings  Stock Market Flotation   Buying ingenuity   Working in a 30s store   Woolies' first character items   Keeping prices under sixpence

Eclipse & Crown records  Woolies' first Ladybird items   Royalty and Empire   "New Bond" staff magazine   First catalogues   Restaurant & Tea Bar

Music & Video Gallery Home

Music and video introduction   Sixpenny pops: We'll have a Woolworth wedding (20s Gallery)

Little Marvel - our first gramophone records (20s Gallery)    Eclipse and Crown records, the nation's favourite (30s Gallery)

Play "The Lion and Albert" 78 rpm record (plays both sides)   Play Vera Lynn's Top Hat. White Tie and Tails (Side 1)

Play Vera Lynn's Top Hat, White Tie and Tails (Side 2)   Making a Crown record (30s Gallery)

Under the covers of Embassy Records (50s Gallery)   Hits of the 60s - the new music (60s Gallery)

On a budget in the 1970s    Launch of the Video Collection Pre-Recorded Video in the 80s   

The Video Collection - original trailer   2009 - Hundred Up

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Virtual Museum Navigation

1920s Gallery   1940s Gallery  1950s Gallery   1970s Gallery   Toys Gallery   Museum Home Page

 

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

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