Our History

The Old Man of Mow

The Old Man of Mow is a local landmark whose origin is hidden by the sands of time.

In 1907, J. W. Harper wrote Mow Cop and Its Slopes, a local history book about Mow Cop and its surrounding villages. During the coming weeks, North Staffordshire Heritage is posting edited extracts from the book. It is out of print and difficult to obtain from second-hand bookshops.

In the first extract from Mow Cop and its Slopes, we post Harper’s description of The Old Man of Mow.

The Old Man of Mow is a great rock. It stands in a rocky dell. The quarrymen of a former age left it intact. Like many things connected with this hill, why it was left is a matter of conjecture. But there it is. It stands alone, looking down over the Cheshire Plain. It is sombre and black with the years of weather it has seen. It remains a curio unexplained for ages.

The Old Man’s rock’s circumference is 76 feet (ca. 23 m) 7 inches. It is 65 feet (ca. 20 m) 6 inches high. All the approaches to the rock are of the most rugged kind. The location appears to be an ideal rockery. It is pure and simple. There are no shrubs to relieve the monotony of stone.

Visitors to Mow Cop often try to access the rocky dell. Some climb to perilous heights on its steep sides. Few consider their visit to Mow Cop finished without a glimpse of the Old Man.

Photograph: © Copyright Colin Park, licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Post Edited by The History Factory 05.06.2025

Women’s contribution to the war effort

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.

Women, Work and War

Memory Lane – Crewe Woolworths

To learn more about Crewe Woolworths, click “Woolies Buildings-Then and Now” below.

sabrina's avatarWoolies Buildings - Then and Now

59 – 67 High Street, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 2HA

Woolworths opened their 199th store in October 1925 in the town of Crewe. The store they built had a grand Art Deco style, as you can see in the photo below. It spanned from numbers 59 to 67 of the High Street.

Crewe Woolworths 1960 Crewe Woolworths 1960

Source: Francis Frith

The store closed in 1984, another casualty of the Kingfisher closures. Today you’ll find Poundland here, and you’ll happy to see the Art Deco frontage is still there, but it seems to have lost the top floor (compare it to the 1960s photo to see!).

Crewe Former Woolworths - Poundland Crewe Former Woolworths – Poundland

Source: Ballysundriven

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Memory Lane – Congleton Woolworths

There was something for everyone at Woolworth stores. They were located on the High Street in major towns and cities throughout England and Wales.

Affectionately known as “Woolies”, these stores were like Aladdin’s Cave. They were stocked with a wide range of goods. These goods attracted customers of all ages from diverse backgrounds. Among the items Woolworths stocked were toys and games, as well as chocolate and sweets. They also sold pop records, portable radios and car accessories. Other stock included household paint, stationery, and stamps. All stores sold electric fires and fan heaters. The larger ones stocked garden furniture and plants. The list is endless…

Everyone who shopped at Woolworths will have memories of the store they bought from. They will remember its staff and the things they sold. If you and your family shopped at “Woolies”, please share your memories with us and tell us what you bought. Email, northstaffordshireheritage@outlook.com

To learn more about Congleton Woolworths, click “Woolies Buildings-Then and Now” at the top of the extract.

sabrina's avatarWoolies Buildings - Then and Now

35 – 37 High Street, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 1AX

Woolworths opened in Congleton in 1927. It was a small store with a typical Woolworths look to the first floor – see below.

Congleton Woolworths 1956 Congleton Woolworths 1956

Source: Congleton Through Time, Alcock J.

In 1968 Woolworths bought The Bears Head Hotel and Farrell’s Sweet Shop next door. They were demolished along with Banks Car Garage on Market Street to build a Woolworths superstore. At the time Mr. G. Lamb was the store manager, pictured below with his staff.  These photos were in The New Bond (The House Journal of F. W. Woolworth and Co. Limited) June/July 1970 – kindly sent in by Richard Northover. He says “This was the forerunner of Woolworths/Woolies News, which was all about people and stores – not the political rag that was Woolies News!! It was named after the original head office in New Bond Street London…

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Memory Lane – Hanley Woolworths

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.

NSH.2024

sabrina's avatarWoolies Buildings - Then and Now

7-9 Upper Market Square, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST1 1PY

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 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 Hanley Woolworths 1950s

Source: ThePoterries.org

Hanley Woolworths 1950s Hanley Woolworths 1950s

Hanley Woolworths 1958 Hanley Woolworths 1958

Hanley Woolworths 1960s 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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Memory Lane – Longton Woolworths

sabrina's avatarWoolies Buildings - Then and Now

28 Market Street, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST3 1BT

Woolworths opened in Longton in 1927, back when it was a rich and thriving town. You can see the store on the left side of this photo, next to Boots.

Longton Woolworths 1950s Longton Woolworths 1950s

Source: Stoke-on-Trent Live

In 1965, a new shopping centre called the Bennett Precinct opened. It still exists today, with a very green look. Woolworths extended in size, taking over Boots, and having a new boxy look. It had a side entrance into the Bennett Precinct. The store lasted until the end, closing in December 2008.

Longton Woolworths 2008 Longton Woolworths 2008

Source: The Potteries

Longton is quite a sad story when you look at it today. This photo is at the exact same angle as the 1950s one at the start of this post. What was once a bustled street is now full of abandoned shops. The only bit still in use…

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Memory Lane – Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths

There was something for everyone at Woolworths stores, which were found on High Streets in towns and cities throughout England and Wales.

Affectionately known as “Woolies”, these stores were like Aladdin’s Cave. They stocked a wide range of goods that attracted customers of all ages who came from all walks of life. Among the things you could buy were toys and games, chocolate and sweets, pop records, portable radios, car accessories, household paint, stationery and stamps, electric fires, fan heaters, garden furniture and plants.

Everyone who shopped at Woolworths will have memories of their local store. If you and your family shopped at “Woolies” in Newcastle-under-Lyme, please share your memories with us and tell us the things you bought.

NSH.2025

sabrina's avatarWoolies Buildings - Then and Now

96 High Street (formerly Penkhull Street), Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs ST5 1QF

The 300th Woolworths store opened in 1928 on Penkhull Street in a timber-framed building. At some point Penkhull Street was renamed ‘High Street’.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths 1930s Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths 1930s

Source: BBC

After WW2 the ‘3d and 6d’ was dropped from the fascia so it read ‘F. W. Woolworth’.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths 1950s Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths 1950s

Source: Age Photo Stock

In the 1950s a zebra crossing was put on the road directly in front of Woolworths.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths 1950s Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths 1950s

Source: Pinterest

Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths 1950s Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths 1950s

Source: Magnolia Box

In presumeably 1960s, Woolworths had a major makeover. They demolished the original timber-framed building and built a two-floor superstore that took the whole of the corner plot. It went all the way to the other end of Friar Street where there was another entrance.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths 1965 Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths 1965

In the 1970s, the logo was updated on the fascia.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths 1970s Newcastle-under-Lyme Woolworths 1970s

Source:

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Memory Lane – Stafford Woolworths

sabrina's avatarWoolies Buildings - Then and Now

18 Market Square, Stafford

Woolworths opened their 320th store  in Stafford on 23rd June 1928. It was at 18 Market Square, in a building full of character. You can see the store on the right here, next to the building works.

Stafford Woolworths 1934 Stafford Woolworths 1934

Source: Staffordshire Past Track

In 1962, it was intended for Woolworths to move to a bigger purpose-built store at Gaolgate Street and for the Market Square store to close. (Source: Soult’s Retail View)

The store number of 320 was transferred to the new store. But for some reason Woolworths decided to keep the old store open. With the store number given to the new branch, the Market Square store had to be assigned a new number, and that was store number 1067. You can see the original store open in this 1972 photo.

Stafford Woolworths (Market Square) 1972

Stafford Woolworths (Market Square) 1972

Source: Stoke on Trent Live

The Market…

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Memory Lane – Stoke-upon-Trent Woolworths

sabrina's avatarWoolies Buildings - Then and Now

6-8 Majestic Buildings, Campbell Place, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs 

Woolworths opened in Stoke-on-Trent in 1928. Two other Stoke-on-Trent stores already existed at Hanley and Longton. This third one opened at 6-8 Majestic Buildings, which we know thanks to Graham Soult‘s research. You can see the small store on the far right of this photo. The building on the far left was the Majestic Cinema, and in front are concrete shelters for cinema-goers to be protected from the rain when queuing.

Stoke-on-Trent Woolworths 1957 Stoke-on-Trent Woolworths 1957

12 – 14 Campbell Place, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs ST4 1LY

In the 1957, quite soon after the above photo was taken, Woolworths acquired the cinema and demolished it to building a new, bigger store. The rather ugly concrete shelters were kept – they were then used as bus shelters.

Stoke on Trent Woolworths 1960s Stoke on Trent Woolworths 1960s

Source: Facebook

In the below 1963 photo, you can see the new Woolworths store in…

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Memory Lane – Burslem Woolworths

sabrina's avatarWoolies Buildings - Then and Now

17-19 St John’s Square, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire ST6 3AN

Woolworths opened in Burslem in September 1929 in a purpose-built two-storey building. According to the book Burslem Through Time by Mervyn Edwards, the first store manager was L.H. Hewitt. This branch of Woolworths stocked a range of locally manufactured china and pottery items.

Burslem Woolworths 1930s Burslem Woolworths 1930s

Source: Historic England

In 1966 the store was modernised – this photo was taken just after the store reopened. Doors were moved to the left, and inside you can see signage on the walls saying ‘Quality Foods’ and ‘Frozen Foods’. The store was quite long inside.

Burslem Woolworths 1966Burslem Woolworths 1966

Source: Seaton, P.

Burslem Woolworths 1994 Burslem Woolworths 1994

Source: Burslem Through Time – Edwards, M.

Burslem Woolworths 2000 Burslem Woolworths 2000

Source: The Potteries

The store lasted until the end, closing on 2nd January 2009.

Burslem Woolworths 2008 Burslem Woolworths 2008

Source: The Potteries

It became a Poundstretcher for a few years…

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