The closure follows months of financial pressure linked to higher operating costs, business rates, changes in shopping habits and competition from out-of-town retail parks. The store had remained at the same Bridge Street location throughout its history, becoming one of Warrington’s longest-running independent retailers and serving several generations of local customers.
More Than a Century of Trading Ends in Warrington
Frederick Hancock and David Wood founded the business in 1914, establishing what would become a familiar part of Warrington’s town centre. According to the BBC, the company remained under the ownership of the Hancock family, with Christopher Hancock representing the fourth generation involved in running the store.
Over the decades, Hancock & Wood sold womenswear, shoes, accessories and beauty products. It was also known for bra-fitting services and an in-store café. Customers interviewed before the closure spoke about the personal service provided by staff and the role the shop had played in their families’ lives.
The store also experienced major events in Warrington’s modern history. It continued trading after the 1993 Warrington bombing, when two IRA devices exploded in the town centre, killing two boys and injuring 56 people. Christopher Hancock recalled that his brother was knocked over by the second blast but was not injured.
In a farewell statement published on Facebook, the company said it had been “more than a department store” and described the shop as a place where friendships had formed and generations of customers had returned. It thanked staff, suppliers and shoppers for supporting the business throughout its 112 years of trading.
“While our doors may close, the memories made within these walls will live on in the hearts of our staff, our customers, and the town we have proudly called home for more than a century,” the statement said.
Rising Costs and Changing Shopping Habits Drove the Decision
The company announced its planned closure in June. According to the BBC, its owners cited the growth of online shopping, higher business rates and increasing competition from retail parks among the factors behind the decision.
Christopher Hancock also said operating costs had risen well above inflation since the coronavirus pandemic, while increases in turnover had been difficult to achieve. He described the high street as having changed significantly and said the combination of internet shopping and out-of-town retailing had made trading harder.
A company spokesperson gave a similar account to the Warrington Guardian. According to the newspaper, the business said increasing employment costs, public utility bills, business rates and the volume of legislation it had to navigate had left it with “little room for manoeuvre”.
The closure was not entirely unexpected among staff. Assistant manager Diane Oxley told the BBC that Bridge Street had declined over recent years, although she described the shutdown as “an end of an era” that would disappoint many customers.
Hancock & Wood’s final message focused on the people who had sustained the business for more than a century. “Thank you, Warrington,” the company said. “It has been the greatest privilege.”
