Outside the now-demolished Woolworths on Burlington Street in the early 1980s. Burlington House can be seen in background in the centre of the picture.Outside the now-demolished Woolworths on Burlington Street in the early 1980s. Burlington House can be seen in background in the centre of the picture.
Outside the now-demolished Woolworths on Burlington Street in the early 1980s. Burlington House can be seen in background in the centre of the picture.

'Cult icon' of Woolworths in the Eighties set to star in new Chesterfield book

A ‘cult icon’ from famous Chesterfield department store Woolworths is to have its own chapter in a new Chesterfield book.
Jon Ball
By Jon Ball
Published 22nd Mar 2021, 14:42 GMT
Updated 23rd Mar 2021, 07:35 GMT

The latest Dirty Stop Outs guide will have a chapter dedicated to the photo booth inside the Burlington Street store.

A spokesman said: “The forthcoming book is set to celebrate an unlikely, some might say cult icon of 1980s’ Chesterfield.

“A visit to the Woolworths photo booth was a true rite of passage for teenagers in the decades before the arrival of camera phones.”

The book, the Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to 1980s Chesterfield – Picture Edition, is dedicating an entire chapter to the booth.

Neil Anderson, author, said: “Cramming into Woolworths photobooth with friends and partners could be an almost weekly occurrence in the ’80s.

“Everyone did it. And, considering the amount I’ve received, everyone hung onto them.”

The Dirty Stop Outs Guide to 1980s Chesterfield was a hit in the town and people are now invited to play a part in its follow-up picture edition by sending in their own photos and memorabilia for possible inclusion.

Email [email protected] and we will pass them on.

The store closed in 1999 and moved to the Vicar Lane shopping centre, with the old building demolished. The new store closed a few years later when the retailer collapsed amid huge debts.

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Rear of Woolworths, Church Way, in March 1989.

1. Rear of Woolworths

Rear of Woolworths, Church Way, in March 1989. Photo: Sabrina Jillah/wooliesbuildings.wordpress.com

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A visit to the Woolworth’s photo booth was a true rite of passage for teenagers in the decades before the arrival of camera phones.

2. Rite of passage

A visit to the Woolworth’s photo booth was a true rite of passage for teenagers in the decades before the arrival of camera phones. Photo: Kathryn Brown

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A forthcoming book, The Dirty Stop Outs Guide to 1980s' Chesterfield – Picture Edition, is dedicating an entire chapter to town's Woolworth's photo booth.

3. Chapter and verse

A forthcoming book, The Dirty Stop Outs Guide to 1980s' Chesterfield – Picture Edition, is dedicating an entire chapter to town's Woolworth's photo booth. Photo: Kathryn Brown

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Auther Neil Anderson said: “Cramming into Woolworths photobooth with friends and partners could be an almost weekly occurrence in the 1980s."

4. Weekly occurrence

Auther Neil Anderson said: “Cramming into Woolworths photobooth with friends and partners could be an almost weekly occurrence in the 1980s." Photo: Kathryn Brown

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Related topics:ChesterfieldWoolworthsVicar Lane