On January 1st, 1878, C J Woodrow received a business as a 21st birthday present from his father, Mr C Woodrow. It was then at No 5 Castle Street, but large private houses each side, Numbers 3 and 7 were also included in the gift.

On that first January morning Mr Woodroe, snr, brought his son to the front door of No 5, took him just inside, and said: "Here is your 21st birthday present, that is your share of the family fortune. You will get no more and you will now stand on your own feet, sir. Good morning." He then turned on his heel and never entered the place again.

Not much is known about the very early years, except that the firm was founded by Mr S H Perman in 1827 who traded as Perman and Son and made the copper frames for the lantern heads of gas-lamp standards when the streets of Salisbury were first lit.

No 3 Castle Street was added in 1901. The firm progressed and turned into a private limited company in 1922. Ten years later, No 7 Castle Street was added.

Woodroes played its part during the Second World War by making sure that materials were readily available for the building of many local Army camps. After the war, Woodrow extended yet again by including No 9 Castle Street in 1951.

During the 1960s, major developments took place with the merger of H W Annetts and Sons and the creation of a first-floor china and glass department at the Castle Street shop.

It was during 1971 that the Builders Merchants section moved to Churchfields Industrial Estate. Two years later, following planning difficulties in Castle Street, it was decided to sell the premises to Tesco and expand on the Churchfields Industrial Estate at the same time opening outlets in the city centre.

Woodrows closed its doors for the last time in 2007.