IN JANUARY 2009, the doors closed on a high street legend - Woolworths.

The department store, famed for selling everything from records to rolling pins, posters to party food, was a high-profile casualty of the high street revolution after the arrival of online shopping.

In Taunton, the town's branch in Fore Street closed on January 6, 2009, much to the annoyance of many - including staff.

The Wellington branch also closed in January 2009, and those pictures are also below.

The former Woolworths store in Taunton town centre was then taken over by a clothing retailer, TK Maxx.

Cut-price designer brand retailer TK Maxx confirmed rumours that they are opening in the county town in July 2009.

The 15,000 square feet store is due to open in mid-October and, although the firm said it was recruiting locally, no information was given on the number jobs being created.

Lucy McGonigle, spokesperson for TK Maxx said: “We are delighted to be opening in Taunton and this new store makes us feel particularly proud.

“It’s TK Maxx like you’ve never seen it before with a cleaner, fresher look – although don’t expect to find waterfalls or marble floors – we’d rather pass on the savings to our customers.”

Taunton’s town centre manager Graham Love said in 2009: “This is good for the town.

“The former Woolworths store is a prominent frontage and now it’s been taken up, even at a time of economic downturn.

“It’ll add to the retail mix and complement the fashion businesses already trading successfully here,” he added.

In 2021 there was some hope of a Woolworths return.

A new Twitter account purporting to be from Woolworths said it is returning to the high street with three trial stores due to open late 2021.

But the Very Group, which owns the brand, confirmed the account is not connected the company and it was all a media stunt.