10 pictures of shops Bristol has lost - including Woolworths
Some well-known, some not
The cost-of-living crisis and the rising cost of energy have led to a string of shop closures across Bristol so far this year - but shops shutting down is nothing new, as this collection of old photographs shows.
Most are from the Hartley collection of photographs, which were taken by commercial photographers Veale & Co in the 1930s and 40s before being recovered by Ian Hartley who sold them to Bristol Museum in 2003.
The images show all kinds of shops, from car dealerships to florists to bike shops, and present a picture of our ever-changing High Streets. Know anything more about any of these pictures, or have we got something wrong? Email [email protected]
1. Woolworths, Whiteladies Road
Woolworths had more than 800 branches in the UK - with more than 10 in Bristol. Here’s Whiteladies store which closed in 2009. It’s now a Sainsbury’s supermarket.
2. Woolworths, Castle Street
The store in Castle Street was the 10th Woolworths to open in Bristol in 1911. It, along with other shops on Castle Street, were lost in the blitz.
3. JW Jenkins, East Street, Bedminster
You wouldn’t miss this shop front with all the flowers on display. JW Jenkins was a florist shop, pictured here in 1959. The store is now a Wilko shop.
4. Bristol and West Building Society, St Stephen's Avenue
Now student accommodation, St Stephens House was built for Bristol and West Building Society in 1938. The Art Deco building is a Grade II listed building. The building society was taken over by Bank of Ireland in 1997.