One year on from the closure announcement regarding historic Oxford department store Boswells, the Debenhams chain has collapsed and is now in liquidation.

It will mean the closure of Debenhams' Magdalen Street branch, leaving John Lewis as the city's only remaining department store.

Read again: Debenhams Oxford will not reopen after lockdown

Staff at Debenhams were told the news at the end of last year that they were likely to lose their jobs unless a last-minute rescue deal took place.

Oxford Mail:

Santa arrives at Debenhams in 1984

The chain had been in administration since April last year.

Read again: Looking back at Boswells

The 12,000 jobs at 124 stores were set to go unless administrators did a deal for all or parts of the business as the process unfolds but this seems unlikely.

Hopes of a rescue were crushed after the last remaining bidder for the chain, JD Sports, withdrew.

Oxford Mail:

Staff at Debenhams in Witney raise money for charity in 2012

Geoff Rowley of FRP Advisory, joint administrator to Debenhams and Partner at FRP, told the BBC: "All reasonable steps were taken to complete a transaction that would secure the future of Debenhams.

"However, the economic landscape is extremely challenging and, coupled with the uncertainty facing the UK retail industry, a viable deal could not be reached."

The news came last year just hours after Topshop owner Arcadia fell into administration, putting another 13,000 jobs at risk.

Read more: Debenhams to be liquidated putting 12,000 jobs at risk

It was a far cry from the hope for the high street which was created when the new £440m Westgate Centre opened in October 2017, with John Lewis as its flagship store.

Oxford Mail:

John Lewis in Oxford opens

Now Debenhams in Magdalen Street is closing it is the end of an era.

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

Twelve months ago Boswells announced it was to close and it shut for good in 2020.

Oxford Mail:

There are now plans for the Boswells building on the corner of Cornmarket Street to be turned into a hotel.

The George Street end of Cornmarket has now lost its two department stores.

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Oxford Mail:

Father Christmas at Debenhams in 1977

A £36m shops and student accommodation block - the new Northgate House - is being built by Jesus College in Cornmarket and will be completed in 2021.