The F. W. Woolworth Store – Abertillery (1931-2009)

The F. W. Woolworth Stores.
The Woolworth empire was started by Mr Frank Winfield Woolworth aided by his brother Mr Charles Sumner Woolworth in 1879 trading under Woolworth Bros. His first store at Utica, New York was started but with limited success, he relocated to Lancaster, Pennsylvania and later to Harrisburg, Reading and Scranton. These stores were called the “Five & Dime Stores”, the 5c. and 10c.

The First Store to be Opened in the United Kingdom.
In 1909 Mr Frank Winfield Woolworth opened the first store outside North America at Church Street, Liverpool, England and it became known as the “Threepence & Sixpence Store”, the 3d. and 6d. store.

F. W. Woolworth & Co.
In 1912 there were almost six-hundred stores associated with Frank Woolworth, F. W. Woolworth got his partners and associated stores to incorporate under the name of F. W. Woolworth & Co.

The Abertillery Store.
In 1930 the F. W. Woolworth & Co informed the Abertillery District Council of their intention to build a store at Abertillery, a site at Somerset Street was chosen. This site was already occupied by about five old cottages (as seen to the left of the featured image above) this row of cottages was some of the oldest premises in Abertillery and were demolished to build the store.

In August 1930 plans were submitted to the council by F. W. Woolworth & Co and the surveyor made arrangements with the company and Mr Rosser who owned the premises next door to the proposed Woolworth store to alter the line of their buildings in an effort to “set back” the shops to make the roadway wider. This was proposed in an effort to keep the customers safe while walking to and from the new store along the then busy main road.

On Tuesday 16th of September 1930, at an Abertillery Trades and Labour Council meeting where the subject of the new Woolworth store was on the agenda, it was stated that the council had told the F. W. Woolworth & Co that they insisted that they build the new store a few feet back as to widen the road in that area. A great deal of correspondence had passed between the two parties and the council could not hold up the building any longer than a month without involving themselves in thousands of pounds of compensation. The council were frustrated, though had to concede as they had no power to compel the company to set the building back, therefore the original planning of the building went ahead and the road was left narrow at that point.

The Opening of the Store.
In April 1931 the Messrs F. W. Woolworth & Co finally built their store at 39-47 Somerset Street Abertillery (as seen left) it was seen as a late addition to such a large town. The store was opened on Friday 24th of April 1931 for inspection only.

The Official Opening of the Store.
On Saturday 25th of April 1931, the F. W. Woolworth & Co store at Abertillery was officially opened for business. The premises occupied the ground floor of 45,000 square feet with approximately 500 square feet of counter space. It was reported that all staff with the exception of the manager were all appointed locally. The firm also took a keen interest in the employees and provided a rest room and dining room.

The Manager.
Mr A. Smith was the residential manager of the new F. W. Woolworth & Co store, Abertillery.

At the time of the opening of their Abertillery store it was reported that it was one of four-hundred and fifty branches of F. W. Woolworth & Co stores in Great Britain.

The Move Across Town.
In September 1965 Messrs F. W. Woolworth & Co announced they were to move their premises from Somerset Street to a place newly vacated on High Street, Abertillery by the demolition of Messrs Simons furniture store at Bristol House, High Street below Coed Iorwg and put their old store up for sale at £22,000.

The Official Opening of the New Store.
On Thursday 11th of November 1965, Messrs F. W. Woolworth & Co left Somerset Street to move to the newly constructed store at High Street, Abertillery.

Boyds of Bond Street.
In May 1966 Boyds of Bond Street moved into the vacated store on Somerset Street and their address was 47 Somerset Street. Boyds sold televisions, washing machines, radiograms, tape recorders and vacuum cleaners. 

Brown Bros & Taylor.
In May 1966 Brown Bros & Taylor Ltd opened a store at the old Woolworth’s building adjoining Boyds. Their address was 39-45 Somerset Street, Abertillery.

Mr Hughie Green.
On Friday 13th of May 1966, Mr Hughie Green, the famous TV star officially opened the store for Brown Bros & Taylor Ltd. They were selling furniture, bedroom suites, dining suites, carpets (with fitting) and three-piece suites etc.

Boyds Record Salon.
In January 1968 Boyds were advertising their “Record Salon” a wonderful selection of LP’s and singles.

Woodhouse.
In March 1968 Woodhouse appeared in the South Wales Gazette and was advertising their “Woodhouse Record Salon” a wonderful selection of LP’s and singles.

In November 1968 Woodhouse were advertising they were selling furniture at Somerset Street, although there isn’t any address on the posters or adverts.

Cavendish Woodhouse.
In August 1968 Jays & Campbell Holdings Ltd had a name change to Cavendish Woodhouse Holdings Ltd.

Cavendish Woodhouse were selling furniture from the store at 39-47 Somerset Street, payment booklets show the proprietors as being Cavendish Woodhouse Limited although just Woodhouse (as seen in the images left) was printed on the logo.

Homecharm.
In 1987 Homecharm were trading from the premises. Homecharm was there until 1993.

Fads Homestyle.
In 1993 Fads Homestyle Decorators & Furnishers were trading from the building, Fads closed in June 2009.

The building is still there only recently converted into three separate shop units.

Many thanks to Clive Cooper and Richie Catlin for their help in providing the later information and dates.

 

Points of interest –
Times Furnishing Co Limited.
Times Furnishing were said to have been trading from the building at some point after Cavendish Woodhouse although I have no information or dates as to where to place them in the timeline other than the company was dissolved in 1994.

The Later Years of F. W. Woolworth & Co at Abertillery.
The Abertillery Woolworth’s store at High Street, Abertillery closed in January 2009.

Iceland Frozen Food’s Store.
Soon after the closure of the Woolworth’s store at High Street, Abertillery, Iceland Frozen Food’s Store purchased the old premises and has occupied it ever since. The old company of F. W. Woolworth’s and later the new Iceland Store at High Street had trouble with getting supplies and deliveries into the building owing to the tight access into the site at the top side of the building. In 2015 the Multi Storey Car Park was rebuilt and was reconstructed back a few feet to make the delivery bay into the Iceland store more accessible.