Woolworths: A look back at the old south Essex stores

The retailer went into administration in 2008 and closed all of its UK stores, including numerous across south Essex, by January 2009.

A tweet that went viral at the end of 2020 appeared to announce that Woolworths would be returning to the high street, however this was later confirmed to be a spoof.

Shell - the Woolworths store on Rayleigh High Street was turned into a restaurant following its closure in 2009

Roll call - members of staff at Woolworths’ Southend High Street store line-up for a group photograph in 1950

The hoax announcement that the retailer would return in 2021 evoked fond memories among Echo readers.

Clare Ellis said at the time: “I remember Woolworths in Southend. I was at school then when it was around.”

Outside - Councillor Peter Dolby stands in front of the Woolworths store on Leigh’s Broadway shortly after the shop closed its doors for the final time

Maureen Kirkland added: “I worked in the Southend store for seven years. I hope Woolies comes back to the high street.”

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Woolworths boasted stores in Southend, Wickford, Leigh, Hadleigh, Canvey, Basildon, Westcliff, Rayleigh and Billericay during its heyday.

End of an era - Southend High Street waved goodbye to its Woolworths store when it shut its doors for the last time in January 2009

The retailer opened a small premises at 29 Southend High Street on April 25, 1914.

A cinema front was added in 1957, when the store was extended to span 29-35 High Street.

It was enlarged further in 1977, while the upper sales floor and restaurant were closed in 1988.

The entire store was shut in January 2009.

Scroll through these photos from our archive to see more memories of south Essex's Woolworths stores.

Standing together - John Rushton (left) and David Harrison outside the closed Woolworths on Wickford High Street in February 2009

Happy to meet again - a host of former Woolworths employees who worked at the Southend High Street store in the 1950s and 1960s enjoyed a get together at Sands Restaurant in 2012

Treasure trove - ex-workers at the Southend High Street store shared memories and photographs from their days at Woolworths

Getting festive - Southend Woolworths employees at a Christmas party when the footfall in the High Street was high and online shopping did not exist

Memories - the pic ‘n’ mix sweets found at Woolworths were a favourite with children