Watford Observer: Woolworths in Watford c1964

Woolworths in Watford High Street c1964.

After 100 years of trading, Woolworths stores across the country closed their doors for good earlier this year.

Watford had two stores – in the High Street and in St Albans Road – and there was one in South Oxhey, and when these shops shut, the town lost a familiar sight that had been present for the past 93 years.

The photographs reproduced below, kindly supplied by Watford Museum, show Woolworths in different stages of its life in Watford.

Woolworths first came to Watford during World War One, when the fish and poultry shop owned by AE Smith at 124 High Street was replaced by "FW Woolworth and Co, bazaar" in 1916.

Over the years, the store expanded by taking over adjacent shops, and carried the "3d and 5d Stores" sign.

By the mid-1960s, the store had extended to the corner of King Street.

During a modernisation programme in the 1980s, a new shop was built on the corner of High Street and King Street.

However, sales were not as high as were hoped, and it closed on January 1, 1990.

Watford was without a High Street Woolies for ten years, until the shop near Clarendon Road opened in 2000.

Watford Observer: A E Smith fish and poultry shop in Watford High Street

The AE Smith at 124 High Street was replaced by "FW Woolworth and Co, bazaar" in 1916.

Watford Observer: Woolworths in Watford High Street c1930.

Woolworths at 124 High Street pictured c1930.

Watford Observer: Woolworths in 1981 at the site on the corner of High Street and King Street.

Woolworths in 1981 after moving to the corner of High Street and King Street.

Watford Observer: The store on the corner of High Street and King Street closed in 1991.

The store on the corner of High Street and King Street closed in 1991.