Women from North Staffordshire were “called up” for military service or war work during the Second World War. Some served in the armed forces. Others built Spitfires at Castle Bromwich or worked in munitions factories at Swynnerton and Radway Green.
To read about women’s contribution to the war effort, click “Women Work and War” below.
There was something for everyone at Woolworths, a chain store found on High Streets in England and Wales.
Affectionately known as “Woolies”, Woolworths stocked a wide range of goods. These included toys and games, sweets and chocolate, and record players.
They also sold portable radios, car accessories, household paint, stamps, stationery, electric fires and fan heaters. The larger stores sold garden furniture and plants. If you and your family shopped at Hanley Woolworths, tell us about the shop and the things it sold. Email, northstaffordshireheritage@outlook.com
To learn about Hanley Woolworths, click “Woolies Buildings-Then and Now” at the top of the extract.
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In 1915, World War One did not stop Woolworth expanding and they opened their 55th store on Upper Market Square in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. As with many war-time stores, it had a similar design to Kingston-upon-Thames (Store 43), with an open pediment and a Venetian window.
Hanley Woolworths 1920s
Source: Historic England
In 1937 the store had a makeover, and as it was a long-store, the design was Art Deco with a centrepiece at the top.
Hanley Woolworths 1950s
Source: ThePoterries.org
Hanley Woolworths 1950s
Hanley Woolworths 1958
Hanley Woolworths 1960s
Source: Pinterest
In the 1970s the store was modernised along with the conversion to self-service. A typical frontage design was to have long narrow brick sections alternating with aluminium panels. As for the entrance, the display windows were moved to the sides and a panel of doors installed across the centre.
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16 – 18 High Street, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 7HY
Woolworths opened in Uttoxeter in 1932 in a purpose-built store on the High Street.
Uttoxeter Woolworths c1955
The store manager from 1933 was Mr Slade, and this photo was sent in by Richard Northover who actually met him many decades later. He shares his memories with us below.
Uttoxeter Store Manager 1930s
“His name is Mr R J Slade known as ‘Jim’ who retired from Store 60 Cheltenham in the early 1960s. I met him in 1979 when I was a trainee manager at Store 60. I got to know him when another trainee manager at the store was going out with a couple of the girls who worked in the store, one of whom was his granddaughter Vanessa who later married the other trainee. We used to talk when he came into the store, a kindly old gentleman talking to…
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32 High Street, Stone, Staffs ST15 8AW
Woolworths opened in Stone in 1934. It opened in an existing building on the High Street.
Stone Woolworths 1965
Source: Francis Frith
They traded from this location for 74 years until the end in December 2008. The pillar at the front looks really thin.
Stone Woolworths 2009
It became a Heron Foods.
Stone Former Woolworths
While researching Mow Cop’s heritage, we came across this old print of Mow Cop Castle, indicating there may be more truth than we realise in the many legends surrounding its building history.
We think the print is one of a series of local views painted by an artist whose nom de plume was Jotter. North Staffordshire Heritage is trying to trace the publisher, Picturesque Staffordshire. Please get in touch if you can tell us more about the castle or help identify Jotter.
Our email address is northstaffordshireheritage@outlook.com
Since our post was written, we have been told that the view of Mow Cop, which is on a postcard, was painted by Walter William Young (1868-1920). Can anyone give us more information about him?
North Staffordshire Heritage 