From Debenhams to Woolworths - stores we'll miss this Christmas

Beacuse of that, the Daily Echo looks back at some of the department stores we all miss – especially around this time of year.

• READ: Debenhams and Arcadia shops set to close >>>

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Edwin Jones and Debenhams

Edwin Jones came from Romsey and opened a small single fronted shop in Southampton's East Street in 1860 before opening larger premises in the same street.

The business continued to grow and soon he bought up the well-known pub, The Blue Boar, to gain extra space for his shop.

By 1880 he had built a new shop in what became known as Queen's Building.

The business further expanded with the new Manchester House Building and was purchased by Debenhams in 1928 but kept the name Edwin Jones until 1973.]

During the Second World War the store was destroyed during The Blitz and the new shop was not completed until 1959.

In 2020, all Debenhams stores across the country were closed due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and it was announced during this time that the Southampton store would remain closed.

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Mayes and Owen Owen

Cooks and Mayes drapers and mercers occupied the building at 174 High Street between 1830 and 1855 before changing their name to Mayes and expanding from property number 173 through to 178.

The premises were destroyed during the Second World War and rebuilt when the business was acquired by Owen Owen Ltd in 1947.

The premises of Mayes department store were destroyed during the Second World War and rebuilt when the business was acquired by Owen Owen Ltd in 1947.

The name of the store changed to Owen Owen in September 1964 and continued to trade at the location until 1994 when they left Southampton for good.

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Plummer Roddis

Plummer Roddis was something of an institution in Southampton that could trace its roots back to the 1870s.

The original building, located on the corner of Above Bar and Commercial Road, fell victim to the devastating bombing raids of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.

Construction work of the new building began 1962 but the shop closed for the last time in August 1993.

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BHS

British Home Stores had been trading for more than 75 years in the city when it closed.

Archives show that the store dated back to at least 1939 before it closed it’s doors for the last time in 2015.

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Woolworths

The original Woolworths in Southampton opened in 1913 and was located in East Street.

It was not until 1923 when the store in Above Bar opened its doors.

After the building was destroyed during the Blitz, it was rebuilt in stages from 1949 and was completed on November 4, 1954.

Woolworths closed in September 2007 and also had stores in Shirley and Bitterne.

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Bourne and Hollingsworth

Bourne and Hollingsworth, a department store in London, began life in Southampton in 1959.

The store adopted the name Bournes before closing in 1983.

The site is now occupied by Poundland.

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Tyrell and Green

The Above Bar shop began life as a drapers in 1898 and captured the hearts and attention of Southampton shoppers until it closed in 2000.

During the Second World War the shop was completely destroyed by enemy action and the store and staff transferred to Winchester.

In 1956 a new building, on the same Above Bar site, was officially opened.