Forbidden Places: Urban Exploration Database. Opacity - Abandoned Photography and Urban Exploration. Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society Department Store. Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society Department Store, Woolwich Feb 2010 The impressive department store occupies a prominent place on Powis Street, Woolwich.
Built in 1938 By the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society in the art deco style. The Royal Arsenal Co-op was founded by workers at the local royal arsenal in 1868, their principal aim was to provide reasonably priced food for local workers. The co-op developed and came to offer a range of services locally which included bookshops, chemists, undertakers, laundries, insurance and savings stamps clubs and a department store. The co-op was founded on on the democratic principals of one member one vote and paid a dividend to members. The store was to become a popular high street store for the next 50 years, selling clothing and housing a bank.