Old photographs of businesses in Hexham, Northumberland

Karen Holmback Ellerby said she missed Iceland, Argos, Poundland and Woolworths.

Woolworths before the company dissolved in 2015 (Image: NQ)

Woolworths – or Woolies as it was affectionately known – was one of the most significant casualties of the 2008 financial crash and the company officially dissolved in 2015.

Winifred Anne Varty said she missed the Woolworths store which was located on Fore Street and Jean Fairburn commented: "Definitely the Drapers shop." 

Drapers was a clothing store. 

Robbs store in 2005 (Image: Hexham Local History Society)

Hayley Ellen Watson said she missed the Argos catalogue, while Steph Armstrong said Argos, Iceland, Robbs and Poundland.

It was 1818 when William Robb opened the first Robbs shop in Hexham.

At its peak, Robbs became so popular that another store was built at Alemouth Road, which began trading as Tynedale Park in 1989.

Edinburgh Woollen Mill in Hexham (Image: Newsquest)

Beales secured a £250,000 deal to buy out Robbs in 2010.

Martin Jewitt mentioned Fewsters bike shop, and Jane May Darling-Smith said: "Only Woolworths for me. Edinburgh Woollen Mill for Mum."

Battle Hill in Hexham (Image: Hexham Local History Society)

Argos, once located on Fore Street, closed in 2020 along with the Edinburgh Woollen Mill in the Market Place. 

Carol Henderson said: "I miss Fern, Knights Bakers, Rider and Groom. Hexham was full of proper shops then, not a charity shop in sight."

Barclays Bank in Hexham in approximately 1964 (Image: Hexham Local History Society)

Alexander Brewis Gair added: "Cresswell's on Priestpopple, and much earlier Walkers on Mealmarket, not forgetting of course Steve Smith's on Hencotes and Waltons on Broadgates."

The Amazing Pound Shop, located on Battle Hill, in approximately 2000 (Image: Hexham Local History Society)

Becca Turnbull, Ray Bather and Joy Hill said they missed Argos, while Andrea Ferrol also said: "Charlie’s Cafe and Drapers clothes shop behind the library."

Businesses in Market Place, Hexham approximately 1910 (Image: Hexham Local History Society)

Shelly Newton said: "Knights Bakery the nicest scotch pies in the world."

Evelyn Anderson said she missed 'a proper baker's shop like Knights or Nichols', as Jasper Green mentioned Robbs, Argos and Safeway.

Shops in Market Place, Hexham in approximately 1979 (Image: Hexham Local History Society)

Adrian Leadbitter said: "Presto, Herons and Poundstrechers, many individual stores when Robbs was open even the Co-op, even though some have opened stores elsewhere in the town. The list goes on, Coffee Cup and Peters the Bakers."

The Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Bell & Riddle Chemist in the Market Place circa 1991 (Image: Hexham Local History Society)

Pamela Robbie added Almond the Butchers and Pie Shop and Woolworths.

Tracy Whitfield Scandle said she missed Poundland bargains and Anne Lawson said: "Keyhole Boutique in the 1970s along Fore Street, was trendy for Hexham. Next door to Cafe Roma."