The End of an Era

Mum and I braved the icy cold wind to go up to Kingswood for a little bargain hunting this morning.  It was the final day of trading for Woolworths in the town centre.  We went in and did manage to find a few useful bits and bobs at 70% off (mainly yet more toys for DN!!) but it was really sad to see what had been a very thriving shop reduced to the tail-end-of-a-jumble-sale state.  Even the fixtures and fittings were for sale. 

Mum remembers shopping with her 6d pocket money in the same Woolworths as a child and I also remember the joy of going in there as a small child, it was like an Aladdins cave and there was always something you could afford with your pocket money.  As I got older it was the place I used to go to buy singles and LPs, to get a bag of pick 'n' mix or to buy cheap make-up.  As an adult there was a huge Woolworths in Bath that also had a food hall - very useful, and I still have a tin of 'ease-it' oil I bought there sometime in the early 1980's which is still doing sterling service even now - I suspect it will still be going strong in another 25 years time.

Once the Woolworths has closed in my small Essex town (and that closure can only be days away) we shall be totally bereft of anywhere that you can buy such small but useful things as shoelaces, nails and screws, washers, sewing cotton or cheap stationery.  Even the smallest thing like that will necessitate a bus journey to Basildon.  Our Woolworths was really large and is situated in what was once the town's cinema.  It will leave a huge hole in the High Street, and will join the many other shuttered and empty shops that have already fallen victim to the recession.  Economic forecasters say that 10 -15 other national or regional chains are likely to go in January alone - worrying times!

Mum and I did manage to find a few excellent bargains this morning though, especially in Superdrug where I got four boxed Dove soaps, two Radox shower gels and two packets of, ahem, ladies 'hygiene products' for the grand total of £1.87.  Mum also bought next year's Christmas pudding half price in Sainsbury's (it had a sell-by date of December 2010).

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas - we certainly did - and I'll leave you with a photo of Lily, who never has to brave the arctic winds to fetch in supplies, relaxing in the sun over the festive season.

Comments

[Catz]

We feel just the same about the closing of woolworths, so many memories, spending my pocket money (mainly on books and sweets), buying our first tree decorations, our son having his first big tantrum in the middle of the store! lol!, pick and mix before a trip to the cinema! Christmas choc neapolitan tree decorations shaped like little parcels in multi colours. Going to miss that shop! Love the photo of Lily! Hope you had a lovely Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

[Frugal Trenches]

It is very sad isn't it re woolworths. What a lovely photo of Lily!!

[Reds]

I'm so with you on this. And I blame the supermarkets for driving us out of the towns. I live near Chepstow and the town seems to be closing in on itself. What will we do when old the old favourites have gone - make our own again!!