The Wulfrun Centre was built as a result of a joint project between Wolverhampton Council and the Hammerson Group. The architects were T. & P. H. Braddock of London and also Bernard Engle & Partners of London. The engineers were J. H. Coombs & Company of Kingston-upon-Thames, and the contractors were B. Whitehouse & Sons Limited of Edgbaston. Construction began in 1966. It was built in two phases.


The area now occupied by the Wulfrun Centre, seen just after demolition work had started.
The centre occupies part of Snow Hill, so a new road junction was required at the junction of Cleveland Street and Snow Hill to give better access to Garrick Street, which is now an important route into Wolverhampton.
 
Shops and businesses demolished on the Northern side of Cleveland Street were: Cyril Williams Motors Limited, car repairs; B. Billingham Limited, car repairs; Regent Model Shop; C. D. Nokes & Son, house furnishers.

Shops and businesses demolished on the eastern side of Snow Hill were: J. Hawkins, draper; Hughes & Holmes Limited, ironmongers; Craddock Bros. Limited, shoe shop; J. Kirkham, herbalist; Scrivens Limited, opticians; F. D. Paddey, wine merchant; Beacon Stores, house furnishers; Tweedies Sports Centre; Millers (Jewellers) Limited; Arthur Dodd & Company (Paints) Limited; B. Billingham Limited, car dealer; Allen's Auto Service Limited, car dealer.

Shops and businesses demolished on the western side of Snow Hill were: Barclays Bank; H. Inscoe & Sons, estate agents; Royal Liver Friendly Society; C. D. Nokes & Son, house furnishers; Coral Cleaners; Swan & Peacock Hotel; Rudler Brothers, leather goods; T. J. Robinson & Sons, butchers; G. L. & O. E. Whittaker & Sons Limited, confectioners; Alfred Preedy & Sons Limited, tobacconists; T. A. Henn & Son Limited, jewellers.
 
Phase 1 was completed in September, 1968. Phase 2 was open for business in October 1969.


The western half of the ground floor.


The eastern half of the ground floor.


The western half of the basement.


The eastern half of the basement.


The Piazza, as planned.


The Piazza in the early 1970s. From an old postcard.


The original Cleveland Street frontage with the mural over the entrance, depicting the grant of land in 985 by King Aethelred to Lady Wulfrun.


Looking into the Wulfrun Centre from the end of Dudley Street in the mid 1970s.


A view from the 1970s.


The Piazza in the early 1970s.


Another view from the early 1970s.

When completed there were 84 units to let. Some of the early lettings included: Littlewoods, Sainsburys, C&A (extension at the rear of the shop), Mac Fisheries, Meesons, Marley Tiles, Eastern Carpet Stores, Fosters wines, Thorntons, Lawleys, Sketchleys, The Gondolier public house, a 450 seat cinema and Laskys (hi fi and domestic electronics).

Since the early days, the centre has considerably changed, mainly due to a 13 month-long revitalisation scheme that started in August 1998.
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