NI department store celebrates 95 years in business: ‘It’s amazing to think we have generations of families shopping with us’

One of the oldest department stores in Northern Ireland, Wadsworth’s has survived a world war, two bombs, a fire and outlived big high street household names. Fred Wadsworth at his store in Newcastle. Photo: Stephen Hamilton A traditional cash register, retro signage indicating menswear, womenswear and homeware departments, a grand wooden staircase and a well-dressed team of friendly and welcoming staff who have almost a century of retail service between them.

No, this isn’t a recount of an episode of the 1970s sitcom Are You being Served? This is the entrance to one of, if not the oldest, department store in Northern Ireland as Wadsworth of Newcastle is celebrating 95 years of business this year..