High Street, Sheffield city centre, in March 1970, with Walsh's of Sheffield on the left, as the store was known when it was owned by Harrods. The store as we largely recognise it today was bought and rebuilt by Harrods after 1946 and opened in 1953 - the original, historic John Walsh Department Store was devastated by the Sheffield Blitz on the infamous night of December 12/13, 1940. placeholder image
High Street, Sheffield city centre, in March 1970, with Walsh's of Sheffield on the left, as the store was known when it was owned by Harrods. The store as we largely recognise it today was bought and rebuilt by Harrods after 1946 and opened in 1953 - the original, historic John Walsh Department Store was devastated by the Sheffield Blitz on the infamous night of December 12/13, 1940.

History of Sheffield's John Walsh building where troubled Poundland could leave another empty department store

Alastair Ulke
By Alastair Ulke

Senior Reporter

Published 9th Nov 2026, 17:46 GMT

Walsh's, Rackhams, House of Fraser, T J Hughes - and now troubled Poundland

Rumours of a bleak times ahead for Poundland could cost Sheffield another empty department store should the brand go under.

The bargain retailer is navigating talks to save itself from insolvency, after filing a notice last week to appoint administrators and placing as many as 11,000 jobs at risk.

But, for the John Walsh building on High Street in Sheffield, which the budget brand calls home, it wouldn’t be the first time a big British name has come and gone.

The enormous building at the corner of High Street and Castle Square has a storied history, including devastation at the hands of the Nazis during the Sheffield Blitz, a rebirth under Harrods, and a centrepiece of shopping near the Hole in the Road.

Over the years it has been the home of Walsh’s of Sheffield, Rackhams, House of Fraser and T J Hughes.

The enormous building as we recognise it today was broken into three smaller stores in 2013 to make it more palatable to businesses.

But shops with such huge footprints are hard to fill on modern day UK high street, and Poundland’s uncertain future could spell another empty department store in Sheffield city centre.

Is the John Walsh Building Sheffield’s next Cole Brothers?

Take a look at our gallery below for a fly-by history of one of Sheffield’s single biggest buildings and some of the names that have come and gone over the years.

The store pictured in 1989 bearing the House of Fraser branding, with the Hole in the Road in the foreground.

5. House of Fraser by the Hole in the Ground, 1989

The store pictured in 1989 bearing the House of Fraser branding, with the Hole in the Road in the foreground. | Sheffield Newspapers

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Security manager Sandra Towndrow locks the doors of the House of Fraser on High Street in Sheffield for the last time after shutting down on April 7, 1998.

6. House of Fraser closes down, 1998

Security manager Sandra Towndrow locks the doors of the House of Fraser on High Street in Sheffield for the last time after shutting down on April 7, 1998. | NSST

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Pictured at the official opening of the TJ Hughes store, High Street, Sheffield, is Mr George Foster, the Managing Director, as he cuts the tape to open the store, on May 26, 1998

7. Opening day for T J Hughes, 1998

Pictured at the official opening of the TJ Hughes store, High Street, Sheffield, is Mr George Foster, the Managing Director, as he cuts the tape to open the store, on May 26, 1998 | NSST

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Seen are some of the first customers in the T J Hughes store, High Street, Shefield, after the official opening in 1998

8. First customers

Seen are some of the first customers in the T J Hughes store, High Street, Shefield, after the official opening in 1998 | NSST

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