SIGNAGE dating back to the 1930s has been uncovered at a convenience store in Padgate.

The Co-op on Padgate Lane had routine work to replace its fascia boards last week.

But staff got a surprise when workmen uncovered old signage dating back around 80 years on Wednesday, February 14.

Store manager Dave Appleton, who has worked for the Co-op for 30 years, said: “The fascia boards outside had just succumbed to wear and tear, so we were replacing them.

“Obviously we had no idea what was underneath there.

“The work started on the Monday, and on the Wednesday I went outside to talk to the builders and saw the word ‘society’.

“It was lovely to see - I love my history, on the whole of Warrington and especially the Co-ops.

“I’ve got lots of pictures of old stores and a history of the first store in Warrington on Cairo Street.

“I imagine somebody must have seen it during previous redevelopments but not taken any notice of it."

Co-op archivists have estimated that the name plate was installed in the 1930s, while the store itself opened between 1910 and 1916.

The sign may have been installed to coincide with the opening of the store's butchers in 1932.

Although the old signage will be covered up again by the new fascia boards, its reappearance has provoked a wave of nostalgia among customers at the store.

Dave, who has worked at the Padgate Lane store for three years and lives in Orford, added: “There has been a lot of interest in it - people love it and we’ve had lots of customers seeing the sign and coming in with their old stories about the Co-op.

“One customer came in and told me how he remembers that, when he moved here in the 1950s, the shop wasn’t as big, and that we’ve expanded over the years into a couple of terraced houses.

“People have been remembering the butcher’s counter and everyone remembers their divvy number."