Woolworths fire

String o' beads · Post by **String o' beads** » Sun 28 Dec, 2008 11:30 pm

In the late seventies there was an horrific fire at Leeds Woolworth's wasn't there? Am I dreaming it? I can't find any references on t'internet.I recall awful pictures in the YEP of shop assistants begging to be rescued from the barred windows backing on to Central Road.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Mon 29 Dec, 2008 12:07 am

Geordie-exile wrote: In the late seventies there was an horrific fire at Leeds Woolworth's wasn't there? Am I dreaming it? I can't find any references on t'internet.I recall awful pictures in the YEP of shop assistants begging to be rescued from the barred windows backing on to Central Road. This must be a disturbing sensation for you - I honestly can't recall any such incident at Woolworths in Briggate/Central Road at that time, or ever while I've lived in Leeds. Strangely though, in the late 1960s?? there was the massive catastrophic Leeds Market Hall fire just a couple of hundred yards away. No-one as far as I know was injured or trapped in that, but I just wonder if your "flashback" is derived from that !!

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 29 Dec, 2008 12:31 am

BLAKEY wrote: Geordie-exile wrote: In the late seventies there was an horrific fire at Leeds Woolworth's wasn't there? Am I dreaming it? I can't find any references on t'internet.I recall awful pictures in the YEP of shop assistants begging to be rescued from the barred windows backing on to Central Road. This must be a disturbing sensation for you - I honestly can't recall any such incident at Woolworths in Briggate/Central Road at that time, or ever while I've lived in Leeds. Strangely though, in the late 1960s?? there was the massive catastrophic Leeds Market Hall fire just a couple of hundred yards away. No-one as far as I know was injured or trapped in that, but I just wonder if your "flashback" is derived from that !! 70's Blakey, there's quite a bit written on here about the market fire - personal tragedy, my pre-ordered Christmas dinner had just been taken in there by RV Smith that day - goose well and truly cooked Joking aside, it really was a bad time for everyone affected.

String o' beads · Post by **String o' beads** » Mon 29 Dec, 2008 12:44 am

No, not the market fire.This was Woolies on Briggate. Somebody tell me I' didn't dream it.

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 29 Dec, 2008 1:00 am

Yes, Woolies was in Briggate/Central Road, no, sure you were dreaming about a fire!Really have no memory of this and I'm sure I'd remember - nobody mentioned this in earlier threads either. Quick look round does find Woolies burnt down in the 70's - in Manchester!

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Mon 29 Dec, 2008 2:39 am

Yes it's true. Woolies did burn down. My mum worked there and speaks of it often..I'll ask were and what year it was next time I'm up there. (It could have been the 60's if i recall tho)

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 29 Dec, 2008 2:48 am

Phill_dvsn wrote: Yes it's true. Woolies did burn down. My mum worked there and speaks of it often..I'll ask were and what year it was next time I'm up there. (It could have been the 60's if i recall tho) Flip. Now you've got me thinking - did it start in the kitchens of the cafeterria? That does ring a bell but I really don't remember it in Leeds (and you were too young!).

Steve Jones · Post by **Steve Jones** » Mon 29 Dec, 2008 10:42 am

I am pretty sure it is the Manchester Woolworths fire you remember not Leeds.The deaths of staff in the Manchester one were big news at the time.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Mon 29 Dec, 2008 10:44 am

The way my mam says it was she turned up for work one Monday morning and Woolies had burnt down to the ground lol. That was it.. job gone!She wasn't working when i was young so that makes it sometime before 1967 anyway.

Loiner in Cyprus · Post by **Loiner in Cyprus** » Mon 29 Dec, 2008 3:47 pm

I have a vague recollection of a fire in the 60s at Woolies I think. But it is vague. Also the alleyway, with some scaffolding, next to Woolies is in my 'flashback' .