Schofields Department Store - 1980s Photos

MexicoChris · Post by **MexicoChris** » Sun 23 Nov, 2008 2:59 pm

Used to love going to Schofields as a kid in the 1980s, my dad used to work there, used to go on Saturday mornings shopping with my mum.. Over 21 years now since the store closed on the Headrow and the site re-developed into the present shopping center.Here's a few photos and bits I have saved. Hope you enjoy - if anyone has any comments/memories or other pics please add to this thread!Store Manager - Brian BradburyBridge connecting main store with 1967 extention (Food Hall/Home Furnishings) 1985Food Hall 1985Lands Lane Enterance 1985Staff Identity card 1980sStore just after closure & re-location to Briggate - 30th Aug 19871930s Buildings - King Charles Street prior to demolition - 30th Aug 1987Main store viewed from NCP Car Park - 1st Sep 1987Rooftop workshops looking from tower block - 1st Sep 1987Rooftop workshops looking from tower block - 1st Sep 1987View from Headrow once demolition work started/ scaffolding erected - 6th Sep 1987Asbestos removal in Patio Self-Service restaurant Home Furnishings Center (formerly Cafe Royal) 6th Sep 1987Lands Lane view of store - 6th Sep 1987View looking from Patio Restaurant rooftop garden at main store demolition 18th October 1987View of Store Headrow - 22nd Nov 1987View of site from Home Furnishings Center - 8th November 19871951 Jubilee Book1980s Publicity shot1983 Christmas CatalogueCover of Staff House Magazine 'Scan' from 1984 featuring Thrust car which was on display on the ground floor main store that yearCashiers office - Auction Sale 27th Aug 1987Cashiers office - Auction Sale 27th Aug 1987

kierentc · Post by **kierentc** » Sun 23 Nov, 2008 3:14 pm

what a blast from the past! i didn't realise there was a 30s section of the store, i just remember the main 60s bitthanks for sharing

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Sun 23 Nov, 2008 3:20 pm

Fascinating stuff. Especially the cashier's office - I've often wondered what was at the other end of the pipes.

Chrism · Post by **Chrism** » Sun 23 Nov, 2008 3:37 pm

Excellent stuff, some memories there!

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Sun 23 Nov, 2008 4:07 pm

WOW brilliant stuff,i had forgot about the time i went to see the thrust car at Schofield's.Thanks for sharing these

Post by **chameleon** » Sun 23 Nov, 2008 8:14 pm

Brandy wrote: WOW brilliant stuff,i had forgot about the time i went to see the thrust car at Schofield's.Thanks for sharing these Yes, was only talking about that thoe other day Brandy, remember it being very long and sleak with amazingly small front wheels.These pictures really bring back more memories - they seem to fill in some of the gaps in the original Schofields thread I think, thats here for those who didn't see it -http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Mess ... ighLight=1

MexicoChris · Post by **MexicoChris** » Sun 23 Nov, 2008 10:27 pm

kierentc wrote: what a blast from the past! i didn't realise there was a 30s section of the store, i just remember the main 60s bitthanks for sharing IIRC the part of the store that adjoined the former King Charles pub on Lands La/King Charles Croft also pre-dated the 1960s buildings, probbably earlier than 30s infact. The Croft self-service Cafe in the 1930s bit of the main store was opened well before the rebuilding programme. Does anyone remember the distinctive orange dining chairs? There was also the Patio Restaurant opened on the site of the Cafe Royal in the Home Furnishings center in the late 1970s which overlooked a rooftop garden. The staff canteen was called the 'Green Room' as it was situated on the site of what was the green room of the old Hippodrome Theatre which the building replaced as an extention to the home furnishings center in 1967. The Food Hall used to be where Argos is on Albion Street (have some pics somewhere) but relocate to the newly extended store. The stores were connected by the two-story bridge link but also had a corridor in the basement for staff linking them which I can remember walking down. There was also a very strange lift called a paternoster which was like a continous lift with no doors for staff use only in the 1967 Home Furnishings extention. The multi-story car park was added arround 1974 in a joint venture between Schofields & NCP.Other stores were located in Sheffield (opened 1972/closed 1982) Harrogate (former Debenhams on James St - No Hoopers) and the former Ledgard & Wyn in Skipton. The Warehouse was on Cross Green Industrial EstatePeter Schofield retired and sold out to London based Clayform Properties in 1984 who re-located to the former Woolworths building (now House of Fraser) on Briggate in summer 1987. Unfortunatly Peter Schofield passed away a few years ago.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 24 Nov, 2008 8:57 am

Great pictures, MexicoChris! Thanks for sharing them. Fascinating shots of the other end of "the tubes," and glimpses of Beatties, now gone.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Mon 24 Nov, 2008 9:12 am

I can remember going for a bun in the cafe. Wlaking back through the carpet section some kid was larking around and his dad laid down the law in a booming voice, "Barrington, desist!"The old shop looks a lot smarter than the shopping centre there now.

Si · Post by Si » Mon 24 Nov, 2008 9:29 am

In the third picture of the food hall, is the doorway on the right the back entrance to the Albion Street multi-storey car park?There are several steps leading down to pavement level in there, and the entrance used to have a security gate, closed of an evening. The gate fitted against an iron bar which was hinged on the wall, about head-height. One morning, the gate had been opened, but the bar was accidentally left in place. I parked my car, and exited the car park. The next thing I knew, I was laid flat out on me back on the pavement outside this entrance, wondering where the hell I was, with a bloody great red whelt across my forehead. I can still see the little birds flying in a circle around me bonce!