Leeds Then and Today: Schofields

Do you remember shopping at Schofields? Andy Hutchinson reflects on the former Headrow store.

Transcript

00:00Hi, welcome to Leeds Zenon today with me, Andrew Hutchinson.

00:04It was a Leeds City Centre department store held in high regard by a generation of City Centre shoppers.

00:12Schofields was among an elite of shops in the City Centre

00:16and were remembered for its clothes, its toys, its perfumes and even a grotto on Father Christmas.

00:23People still remember Schofields with fondness and people have been sharing their stories online.

00:30It was a wonderful store, great fabric department

00:33and didn't they always display the children's dresses for the Queen and her attendants.

00:38We loved going for the endless coffee top-ups on our Saturday shopping adventures.

00:42This was a wonderful shop although an amazing number of great buildings were destroyed to build it.

00:47Worked there nine years, it was a lovely place and lovely people to work for.

00:53I remember as a kid being fascinated by the tubes that sucked the money up to the offices and the little capsules.

00:59People who walk past the building nowadays still look up and will reflect on this retail gem.

01:08We used to regard it as a little bit more of a posher shop.

01:13I didn't shop in Schofields much, I did go in and browse.

01:18I used to love going to Schofields, I bought a few things for my wedding over 50 years ago there.

01:26It was lovely, they used to have a cafe and they used to have ladies who came round modelling the coats

01:33with a little card telling you how much it was, it was all very different.

01:38From then to today and the number of these shops are now getting ready to show up

01:43ahead of its next chapter of the Headrow landmark.

01:46You talk to anybody about Schofields, a smile comes across their face

01:51and a positive memory of happier times.

01:54www.schofields.co.uk