Worcester’s old sweet shops and confectionery stores

Many shops have come and gone throughout the decades- but they will always live on in the memories of local residents.

Some of these Worcester confectionery stores were dedicated entirely to the sale of sweet treats and chocolate- others were simply shops that were often frequented by Worcester residents with a sweet tooth.

Here are some of the lost sweet shops of Worcester’s past- how many do you remember?

Sigley’s Confectionery

The abandoned Sigley’s building in 1979. Do you recall seeing Sigley's 'ghost' workers walking home?

Arguably, this is one of the most recognisable sweet factories from Worcester’s past.

Carden Street’s Sigley’s was famous for a throat sweet known as Mother Sigley’s Cough Drops- the recipe for which was passed to Mr Sigley, the factory owner, from his own mother.

Sigley’s was one of several industrial buildings based in the Blockhouse area of the city, much of which was comprehensively redeveloped in the 1960s and 70s, with swathes of housing condemned, and the factories and public houses along with them.

Sigley's on Carden Street (Photo: Worcester City Historic Environment Record collection/ Worcester Life Stories)

When the workers left the factory in the evening the streetlights reflected on the glucose from the sweets making their clothing look white and the local residents called them ‘Sigley’s Ghosts’”

The Chocolate Box

(Photo: Worcester City Historic Environment Record collection/ Worcester Life Stories)

This quaint shop used to be on Foregate Street next to the City Snack Bar.

According to The Changing Faces of Worcester website, the buildings lay dormant and empty for years but were demolished when Castle Street was widened.

The newly renovated buildings are part of Restdale House,

The Commandery

The Commandery frontage in 1951 (Photo: Worcester City Historic Environment Record collection/ Worcester Life Stories)

In the modern day, you might recognise Sidbury’s The Commandery as an historic building. At one point, it was the only museum in England.

One Trip Advisor user fondly remembers when there was a sweet shop at The Commandery’s frontage, writing: “As a child I remember a small sweet shop at the front of the building which sold 'Old Mother Sigleys' cough sweets.”

The Commandery was refurbished in 1988 and the local councillor, Geoff Carpenter remarked that “the whole building was resting on a jar of dolly mixtures in a sweet shop”.

Woolworths

Most of us fondly remember this chain store which sold everything from kitchenware to toys.

Sadly, Woolworths stores up and down the country close their doors in 2009.

However, one of the most notable areas of the shop was the Pick ‘n’ Mix section, where sweet lovers had a vast selection of strawberries, flying saucers and cola bottles to choose from.

Worcester’s store opened on March 11, 1916. The store was extended in 1935 and again in 1960.

In October 1979, Worcester’s high street branch caught on fire and firefighters took more than 12 hours to put out the blaze. More than 300 shoppers and 100 members of staff had to be evacuated.

John Vaux Confectioners

John Vaux Confectioners (Photo: Worcester City Historic Environment Record collection/ Worcester Life Stories)

If you grew up in Worcester in the 1970s, you might remember this Worcester confectionery shop.

It was situated on Barbourne Road- did you ever pay a visit for a chewing gum or two?

How well do you know Worcester's sweet shops?

Think you know Worcester's confectionery stores? You can take the online quiz created by Worcester Life Stories by visiting their website. 

Alternatively, you can learn more about the shops of Worcester's past and browse through some nostalgic photos by visiting Know Your Place Worcester, which contains photos from the Worcester City Historic Environment Record collection.