Brief reminder of Horsham’s Woolies

Work has been progressing on installing the latest shop in Horsham’s West Street.

For a brief period the old frontage was removed, revealing the outline of a former highly popular branch of F.W. Woolworth and Co, a company affectionately known as Woolies.

Whether it was to enjoy the pick ‘n’ mix sweet counter, buy a cheap vinyl record or just browse among the many counters, Woolies seemed to have something for everyone.

The Horsham branch opened in 1927 and was the 243rd for the company. In fact, Frank Winfield Woolworth founded the company in New York, in 1878. It wasn’t a success but he tried again a year later in Pennsylvania and it took off.

Move on another year and Woolworth visited the U.K. He thought his stores might find favour and opened the first, in Liverpool, in 1909.

In the 1980s after a take-over of the company, some major changes were brought in and this resulted in the Horsham branch closing in 1984. Woolworths carried on, in one form or another until 2015.

However, fond memories still linger of the Horsham store in its prime site in the heart of the town!