Wigan Album

So clean and fresh with wonderful window displays that attracted shoppers to Crompton Street.

The gate to the left was the staff entrance when I worked at Debenhams in the 1970s. There was a building inside the gates which we called DCB, (I think it stood for Debenhams Central Buying), and it was where goods were delivered and unpacked before being brought into the store.

Now that does look like Lego.

But better built Pw.. in the style of the 30’s.

Veronica, and still standing. I made a point of looking at it on Tuesday Not changed at all. I remember the entrance, on the left, was at the top of a flight of stairs that took you to the Record Dept.

Personally Ron I think it was wrecked inside when Wilco’s altered it.
There were so many departments in that store it took ages going around it! But I suppose it had to be done to accommodate what they ( Wilco) sold. It was my favourite over them all in the sixties and seventies..it was a quality store but always had good sales. Especially in January. Still there were many other shops for young ones if you couldn’t afford the merchandise.

I remember the record department, Ron, as I worked on the same floor for a while, on Glass and China. Veronica, I went in Wilko's a few times and used to wonder where the door had gone that used to lead the staff off the shop floor to the back stairs which led to the canteen. There just seemed nothing left of how it had once been. The stairs and lift used by customers used to be right opposite the front entrance. past the perfume counters, but the stairs and lift in Wilko's were over to the right as you walked in. It was just so different. I used to wonder what had happened to the canteen, the buyers' room and the cash office. They must still have been there somewhere, , and still will be, put possibly dusty, disused and forgotten.

There was more floors when it was Debenhams as you know Irene.
The Basement, the ground and 2 more floors above. Wilco got rid of them! I know many a time I would be walking round in there and trying to visualise it as it was. I seemed all wasted space above …