Boswells and Debenhams in Oxford have now closed, leaving John Lewis as the only remaining department store.

A trip to the toy department at Boswells was once a popular treat and some years Santa would call at Debenhams with his sleigh.

Here we look at some old photos of the stores through the years.

Oxford Mail:

Boswells shut for the last time in 2020, with Debenhams closing a year later. Both buildings are to be converted into hotels and work at Boswells is well under way.

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Christmas was a special time for both stores and children would love a visit - especially to Boswells toy department, which stocked train sets.

Oxford Mail:

Some readers remember a train that took children to see Father Christmas in the basement of Boswells.

One said: "When I was a child, I was taken by my mother to Boswells department store.

Oxford Mail:

"There, in the lower floor, I took a ride in a train (not a real one) to see Father Christmas.

“It was a highlight in the build-up to Christmas and very exciting."

Boswells was founded by the Boswell family in 1738 and traded at 49-50 Cornmarket Street for more than 100 years.

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It remained solely in Cornmarket Street until 1928 when Boswell House in Broad Street was completed.

A wall was knocked down to link the two shops.

Oxford Mail:

In an interview with The Oxford Times in 1959, senior director Mr AH Pearson recalled how, in his early days with the company, staff worked from 8am to 8pm and before Christmas and at the beginning of the university term, up to 14 hours a day.

Santa visiting Debenhams with his sleigh before Christmas would also cause great excitement among shoppers.

Oxford Mail:

Debenhams took over from Elliston & Cavell in 1975 after it had traded on the site for 150 years.