I have written about the Royal Arsenal Cooperative Society (RACS) Department Store at Woolwich and of the history of the Co-Op elsewhere on this site in the piece entitled The Granada Theatre Woolwich, which is part of The Granada Theatre Circut series.

Royal Arsenal Cooperative Society Department Store Woolwich

I remember seeing the RACS Department Store during my first visit to Woolwich in 1953.  I had gone to Woolwich to travel on the Woolwich Ferry and to see the Trolleybuses that were housed at Bexleyheath Trolleybus Depot (BX), which was the first Depot built especially for this type of vehicle.

Bexleyheath Trollybus Depot during the 1950s

During this visit, I apparently failed to register other buildings of interest in Woolwich, including the Woolwich Foot Tunnel, the Odeon Cinema, The Granada Theatre and the Royal Arsenal which I eventually visited in 2010 when I wrote about them, and also in 2014.

The Odeon Cinema & Trolleybus Terminus at Parson’s Hill, Woolwich in 1949 

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The Erstwhile RACS Department Store in 2010

The RACS building on Powis Street was designed by S. W. Ackeroyd and constructed in 1938 and is of an interesting design with Art Deco touches together with a covering  of Faience Tiles.  The metal Crittall Windows were made by the company which also manufactured those of the RMS Titanic and also for the apartments of Tudor City in New York City where I once lived.

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Exactly when The RACS Department Store closed is a question of debate, but it is believed to have happened in the early 2000’s.

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The Store has been used as a film location on several occasions: firstly in 1999 when it was featured in the television programme, The Greatest Store in the World and again in 2006 in the film, Children of Men, which was based on the book (1992) by P.D. James (1920-2014).

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Sadly, the building sat empty for a number of years and appeared to have been left to decay.  A series of photographs showing The Store following its abandonment may be seen at the Abandoned Britain website.

The RACS Building on Powis Street when abandoned
These photographs appear on the Abandoned Britain website where others may be found
Awaiting permission to reproduce these photographs

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While the RACS Department Store was open, it offered a wide range of products and services to members of the public.  A number of excellent photographs of a number of departments may be seen at thamesfacingeast.

Some of the Services Offered at the RACS Department Store
Top Left: Bar Service; Top Right: Confectionary
Bottom Left: Barber’s; Bottom Right: Ice Cream Counter
These photographs are reproduced from thamesfacingeast where others may be found
Awaiting permission to reproduce these photographs

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Powis Street in 1951 with the RACS Department Store on the Left

While writing my earlier piece on The Granada Theatre Woolwich, I was told by the Archives at the Greenwich Heritage Centre that the RACS Department Store building was to be demolished, however, I also heard that should any redevelopment of the site occur, the façade would be retained.

However, in 2012, several proposals were put forward for consideration with regards to the renovation of the RACS Department Store building, but I have not been able to find out any information about them.

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A proposal for renovation of the site was evidently agreed upon, as in 2014 at the time of my visit to Powis Street, I saw that work was in progress.

During my visit to Woolwich in 2014, I found that the erstwhile RACS Department Store on Powis Street was now surrounded by a protective covering and scaffolding.  Unfortunately, the building was inaccessible to the public and so I was not able to observe the work in progress.

Restoration in Progress in 2014

I was happy to see that two delightful old shops adjacent to The Store were still present at the time of my visit, but perhaps these will be removed at a future date.

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Top Left: The former Bethnal Green Town Hall, now converted into Luxury Flats; 
Top Right: The Dorsett Hotel, Shepherds Bush, now an Hotel & Luxury Flats;
Bottom Left: The former Essoldo Cinema Bethnal Green, soon to be converted into Luxury Flats;
Bottom Right: Wickhams Department Store, soon to be converted into Flats and Shops

The renovation of the former RACS Department Store in Powis Street in Woolwich was completed in 2015.   As with many buildings in London, it was converted in Flats (and some ground floor shops).

The Renovated Building now converted into Flats and Ground Floor Shops

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CLICK HERE

To see additional views of the

RENOVATED BUILDING

now a series of flats and shops

These photographs were taken by Mr. Charles Arojo and
I would like to thank him for allowing them to appear here