Talk:List of department stores of the United Kingdom

Macowards

Hi - I have been tring to find any information on Macowards department store chain. I know that they had about 35 stores in the UK with stores in cardiff, Swansea and malvern amongst others. I also know that they were bought out by Jessel Securities, one of the big congolomerates of the 1960s and early 1970s. However Jessel's went bust in '75 and I cannot find any other records. Do anyone have some paper records that could help?Davidstewartharvey (talk) 15:11, 2 December 2014 (UTC)

Hi.. I would also like to find more information on Macowards. I seem to remember reading somewhere that Owen Owen took over some of their stores; Reynolds of Newport and Wades of Brighton I think were two of them. AndrewSE19 (talk) 16:29, 9 May 2015 (UTC)

Hello.. I have found some interesting information online refering to Macowards within 'records of Allied Maples Group' at Victoria & Albert Museum. Here is the link.. http://www.vam.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/252161/amg_aad_2000_03_20141020.pdf Though it is only a list of records held by the V&A, not the records themselves, I think it's interesting in itself as it begins to shed some light on which stores were part of the Macowards group and possibly when. Interestingly, some of the stores that appear here are the very same ones that later appear as Owen Owen stores.. i.e. Stringers, Reynolds, Wades etc. AndrewSE19 (talk) 22:09, 11 May 2015 (UTC)

Maples were bought by Macowards during the 70s - http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/29406405/agreed-bid-maples-comes-from-macowards which was owned by Jessels 1969 to 1974 when Jessels went bust. I have not found any actual link between Owen Owen and Macowards other than several stores.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 13:37, 15 May 2015 (UTC)

Macowards owned by Jessels [1] Davidstewartharvey (talk) 17:37, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

Company became Maples Macowards by 1974 [2] Davidstewartharvey (talk) 17:38, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

looks like Jessel owned Maples Macoward [3] 1975. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 17:42, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

Looks like Jessel owned Macowards bought Maple [4] Davidstewartharvey (talk) 17:49, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

Owen Owen: Eight stores were acquired from Maple Macowards in November 1975 and Wrights of Richmond has recently been added to the group in an exchange with House of Fraser for Owen Owen's Doncaster store Retail Business Issues 221–226. 1976. Page 9.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 17:52, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

Thanks for the info and link. AndrewSE19 (talk) 14:24, 18 May 2015 (UTC)

Update. Found a Daily Mail article that mentions Maurice Lermon was the founder of Macowards, using a 10k loan from Lloyd's Bank to expand the business. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 12:31, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

New info on Macowards. In 1961 they had bought Maddox of Shrewsbury, Samuel Hall Cardiff, Kennards of Wimbledon and Midland Drapery in Derby. In 1967 edition of Whom Owns Whom (page 867) it says they owned: James Caldwell & co; James Caldwell & co (Wimbledon); Clegg (Wimslow); James Cock; Colliers Stores; Densons of Chester; I Gaba & Co; Samuel Hall; Harrison of Stoke; Kendall & co; H E Keightley; Pennington & Son; Lermons; MWD mail order. Can't see the rest due to snippet view.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 16:51, 16 April 2023 (UTC) Davidstewartharvey (talk) 16:51, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

and as Jimmy cricket use to say and there's more! New Dawn 1964 page 405 snippet view. Company was formed in 1937 to purchase the businesses of G W Davies of Bargoed, Lermons in Cardiff, Macowards in Swansea. Tann Stores of Maesteg was bought in 1944, J W Coombs of Northwich and Woods of Colwyn Bay (can't see date), Morris the Realm of Llanelli in 56, Russell Smith & Co of Loughborough in 57, J H Stringer of Stourbridge in 57, Nelsons (furnishings) in 57 and Jsmes Cock of Burslem.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 17:21, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

and more: Moores of Preston (preston/bolton/Blackburn and chorley) and Moore Marlow & Co Preston. Dawson & Co Sidcup, Kendall & co Malvern, Reynolds Newport, E G Taylor Newport, Nelson furnishings Wimbledon, Wades Brighton.[5][6]Davidstewartharvey (talk) 17:28, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

Macowards competed with GUS (retailer) to buy Jines & Higgins [7] Davidstewartharvey (talk) 17:40, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

further info [8] Davidstewartharvey (talk) 17:46, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

more info about Llanelli store - It is Macowards Ltd.'s Llanelli branch , formerly Morris the Realm , which was opened in 1910. The Cardiff - based firm of Macowards , who have about 35 branches , took it over in 1956. They now employ 21 at the Stepney- street store A Llanelli Chronicle 1984 page 469. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 17:48, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

1956 New Dawn list owned Tarrants Bournemouth[9] Davidstewartharvey (talk) 11:38, 17 April 2023 (UTC)

All very interesting reading.

Great research. I have recently seen images of most of these stores but I didn't know about a number of them. Morris The Realm, Tann, G W Davies.

James Cawdell in Watford. The Kennards Wimbledon (previously John Lewis & Co) store was given the James Cawdell name too.

Colliers in Liverpool. AndrewSE19 (talk) 18:18, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

The Macowards store in Swansea looks tiny if this is it? https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2844405 AndrewSE19 (talk) 18:29, 16 April 2023 (UTC)

I dont think they were all department stores. In one article it describes the towns three variety stores as Woolworths, Macowards etc. In another it states that Macowards were trying to open what they called Discount Houses, which in the 60s was the name for supermarkets like Tesco, Anthony Jackson, Supa-Save who sold goods below the retail price maintenance. They owned more than the stored sold to Owen Owen, so I suspect some were furnishing businesses that were retained by Macowards Maples. And one of the company descriptions i found calls Macowards group a retail proprietor group. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 05:29, 17 April 2023 (UTC)

Gorringes

Frederick Gorringes was one of the big department stores of London and reportedly Queen Victoria's favourite, but there seems to be little written about them. The original notes on the list said bought by Whitelys, and then Selfridges in 1927. The only link I can find with Whitelys is at the National Archives in Kew, where there is some paperwork relating to Gorringes in the William Whitely archive. There seems to be no link with Selfridges, Harry or the Provincial Store group, and there is no mention of the store when the Provincial group was bought by John Lewis, including on their archive. Graces Guide says Hide & Co tried to buy the business in 51 but failed, then Grsham and Charles Neale Investments bought the store in Jan 61 and sold it in Mar 61 to R H O Hills of Blackpool. Grace Guide quotes The Times and year but nothing else. The only Times archive I have found so far is Gorringes administration in 68. R H O Hills is linked as there name appears in the William Whitely archive at Kew (again no idea of the link), but on the House of Fraser archive there is no mention on the R H O Hills page (of either Gorringes or Whitelys), or under Hide & Co her bought Hills in 1965. Gresham Trust Ltd & Charles Neale Investments Ltd do appear as capital holders in Fregor Holdings Ltd, name change for Frederick Gorringes Ltd in 1961, which was voluntary liquidated on 12 Aug 1964 but had final meeting in 1968 (Register of Defunct Companies, 1990 pg. 194 [10]) I found the times article from 1968 about administration (against Gorringes on list). The Guardian reported the takeover dealing on 6 Jan 1961 page 11

"Gorringe's sale Yesterday's act in the Gorringe affair is funnier than most of the material used by the Crazy Gang at the nearby Victoria Palace Theatre. If, that is, it were not so serious. In a letter Mr C. K. Rudkin-Jones informs the Gorringe chairman that he will not now make an offer for the store company's capital. The day before he said he would and as the indication then was that the terms would be better than the cash bids made by Gresham and Charles Neale Investments, the price of Gorringe ordinary yesterday shot up to 98s and the preference Jto 25s. The Gresham-Neale terms are 92s for the ordinary and 22s 6d for the preference. Mr Rudkin-Jones's letter is worth quoting : " I regret . . . that due to new circumstances which have arisen since our meeting yesterday the intention which I then intimated to you on behalf of my company is no longer subsisting. I hope you will accept my assurance that at the time such intention was stated in the view of myself and my advisers I was then in a position to express such intention and that my action was therefore a responsible one." Apart from the use of less tortuous language, this letter would be satisfactory only if the " new circumstances " now subsisting were explained. Perhaps the finance was withdrawn. A certain sympathy is owing to Colonel Crisp, the chairman of Gorringe, who probably has tennis umpire's neck from watching bids and promises of bids flash from side to side. The Gorringe board will now circulate its views on the Gresham-Neale offer. It can hardly do otherwise than recommend it. The offer, already made unconditional in respect of acceptances despatched, is formally open until January 13."

But that is it. Nothing else. Any help is greatly welcomed.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 08:30, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

At the time it closed in 1981, Whiteleys in Bayswater was trading under both 'Gorringes' and 'Whiteleys' signage. There's a Getty photo at Financial Times here: https://www.ft.com/content/cf9e5aab-2e71-4241-a5f9-af46ea957701 AndrewSE19 (talk) 21:44, 14 April 2023 (UTC)

as per the comment I put in below, in 1975 UDS owned Frederick Gorringes. I can't find when they purchased it, but it doesn't appear on previous lists. Wonder if UDS just bought the name, as they did buy some lame ducks (John Myers / Telstar) and added a Gorringes store to the ridiculous large store as a separate business, hoping to reclaim Gorringes old customers? (I put in a quote yesterday on the Debenhams page from an ex ceo saying the business had "too much space". Need to start searching Gorringes with Whiteleys. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 06:47, 15 April 2023 (UTC)

Didn't take long! I hate Google search as these didn't appear when you search Gorringes. In 1968 Gorringes was at Whitelys [11], with this one being very confusing! [12] Then this investors article snippet (can't see the actual page If the terms for Whiteleys follow the pattern set by the Gorringe deal , Hills will maintain the Queensway store ... ( In the case of Gorringes , a joint bid by Neale and Gresham was followed by the sale of the store business to. Still no clearer as this picture from the 60s or 70s show the new store! [13]Davidstewartharvey (talk) 06:57, 15 April 2023 (UTC)

I have found another source but can't see it as I don't have a bna subscription. Published: Thursday 05 January 1961 Newspaper: Belfast Telegraph County: Antrim, Northern Ireland - preview is about takeover - mentions MR. C. K. RUDKIN Jones is a director of Blackett. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 09:33, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

There are three further Times sources behind the archive firewall which I don't have a paid membership too. One is about the takeover fight, the other after wards, and one about Gresham investment (from small Google clip)Davidstewartharvey (talk) 09:39, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

I have no concurred that the Whitelyleys connection was adding 1 + 1 =3 by an editor, as the national archive for William Whiteleys had Gorringes, RHO Hills and West & Moulton paperwork. However the archive states it does not know the connection, it says RHO Hills bought West & Moulton. In addition the Daily Herald of 21 September 1961 William Whiteley, the Bayswater store, tumbled further to 40s. the breakdown take-over talks with bidder R. H. O. HILLS. (BNA preview) In other words Whiteley did not own RHO Hills, they were trying to buy Whiteleys and lost to eventual buyers United Drapery Stores. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 13:10, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

In addition the 1968 PhD thesis by James Bruce Tabb at the Uni of Sheffield entitled Accountancy aspects of the take-over bids in Britain 1945 to 1965 show that Army & Navy also bid (Times 25/11/1960 pg. 19), that Gorringes was purchased by Gresham Trust and Charles Neale Investments as they believed the office developments in Victoria would increase the value of the business. There is a anomaly, as the thesis says West and Moultons name was changed to Gorringes Department Store Ltd in 1966 (SEYB 1966 p. 3378). I confirms that Gorringes was purchased by Gresham, and that in 65 it was a subsidiary of Bingham Investment Trust. There is also mention of a 1951 bid by Gorringes to buy Hide & Co. (Times 1/11/51 p. 10). Davidstewartharvey (talk) 13:29, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

I have now confirmed that RHO Hills was a separate Group of Stores, still no evidence of Gorringes. They did own West & Moulton but sold it to Lewis in 1962 who re-branded it Selfridges!Davidstewartharvey (talk) 13:42, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

I'm sure I've read somewhere that Whiteleys were the owners of Frederick Gorringe, R H O Hills and West & Moultons when they were bought by Selfridge in 1927. If this is the case I agree it does seem strange that none of the stores were added to Selfridge Provincial, though perhaps not. The Whiteleys deal was highly leveraged and sat quite apart from the management by H.G.Selfridge jnr. of SPS.

It is a very complicated web. AndrewSE19 (talk) 21:38, 14 April 2023 (UTC)

There may be a link between Gorringes and R H O Hills. Leslie Goldberg was the chair of both businesses. Not sure if same person. Publication:The Boston Globe iLocation:Boston, MassachusettsIssue Date:Wednesday, July 6, 1966 (https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/433812039/) and Publication:The Guardian iLocation:London, Greater London, EnglandIssue Date:Thursday, August 30, 1962 (https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/259802412/) Davidstewartharvey (talk) 16:04, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Found in 1975 the business was owned by United Drapery Services Davidstewartharvey (talk) 20:15, 3 December 2021 (UTC)

References

Hide and co

Hide and co is another company difficult to find refs for. The best I have found (the house of fraser archive has very little) is the official government report https://archive.org/stream/op1265678-1001/op1265678-1001_djvu.txt Davidstewartharvey (talk) 15:11, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

I have found and added the origins of Hide and Co, though only a small snippet from Natwests history of all places. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 12:33, 24 May 2021 (UTC)

R h o Hills

This company seems to be more than just a branch in Blackpool, and West & Moulton in Ilford for a while. Graces Guide says it purchased Gorringes, London in 1961. Can't find any other ref, but a Leslie Goldberg was chairman of R H O Hills, and there was also a Leslie Louis Goldberg as chair of Gorringes after the 1961 bidding war for Gorringes. In addition R H O Hills were listed as operating 4 department stores in the article in Kingston Gleaner Newspaper Archives April 05, 1962 Page 13 (https://newspaperarchive.com/kingston-gleaner-apr-05-1962-p-13/). The same article also mentions Hills were based in High Holborn, WC1, and they were trying to develop Shopping World a 12 acre shopping centre off Watford High Street, which would include a Hills subsidiary store. This is also confirmed in City and Region: A Geographical Interpretation By Robert E. Dickinson. The planning for was rejected in 1962 (https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/259788765/) in The Guardian article Permission refused pg. 10 Thursday, August 2, 1962. In 1965 a High Court judge gave Benskins Brewery the right to rescind the contract to sell Hills the land to build the shopping centre. (https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/259662946/) The Guardian Land agreement was validly rescinded pg. 13 15 December 1965.

If anyone can help with who the stores were thanks. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 18:15, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Confirmed that will Blackpool, Moultons in Ilford, the chain had another store in Ilford which they kept, and one in Penge.(https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/259802412/) The Guardian pg. 10 Thursday, August 30, 1962 Davidstewartharvey (talk) 18:25, 5 May 2021 (UTC)

Recently discovered that Penge had 4 department stores: Co-op, P N Rogers, Bryce Grant and Dupont. Bryce Grant and P N Rogers were in business together as per refs I have added to them, and were taken over by Walter Cobb in the 40s before being shut down, and the store then being owned by H E Olby then Erdingtons. None of these seem to have a link to R H O Hills, and I can't find much on Dupont at all except from a 1957 edition of Leathergoods magazine, so no closer to knowing who this store was. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 10:18, 6 March 2023 (UTC)

D C Edmonds & Co, Winchester

Removed winchester from House of Fraser former branches. Said formerly Chiesmans. Searching the Internet only can find Debenhams in city, and no ref of Hof of Chiesmans. There was a drapers DC Edmonds & Son at 106-107 High Street, whose archives were deposited with Hampshire Archives and Local Studies, https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/c/F187837, with an end date of 1975. This may have been the site, as former Hide & Co businesses seem to have deposited their records at the same time, which is when hof took over Hides, and were all converted to Chiesmans or closed. I cannot find any link between Hide and DC Edmonds. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 14:53, 25 May 2021 (UTC)

Hunt & Cole Battersea

I found the following picture uploaded to Pinterest which is for Falcon Road Drapery Store on the corner of Falcon Road and Battersea Park Road, with proprietor name of Hunt & Cole: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/196610339961553255/.

The picture is dated 1909. There is a further picture here dated 1920: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/rppc-falcon-road-drapery-stores-hunt-462920206

I can't find any further info, other than the second Arding & Hobbs store was on a corner of the same roads - http://stories-of-london.org/arding-hobbs-8/. If anyone could help with any further information it would be most appreciated. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 06:50, 1 June 2021 (UTC)

South Western Star, Saturday 10th February 1894

Advertisement for 'Messrs. Hunt & Cole' as follows -

'IMPORTANT DRAPERY & FURNISHING SALE. ARDING & HOBBS, 1,3,5,7,9 & 14 Falcon Road, Battersea, RESPECTFULLY ANNOUNCE THAT THEIR ANNUAL WINTER CLEARANCE AND STOCKTAKING SALE IS NOW PROCEEDING, and will terminate on Monday Next, February 12th. SPECIAL ATTENTION is directed to this SALE. VERY LARGE REDUCTIONS will be made in every Department in consequence of the Business at 1,3,5,7,9, FALCON ROAD, which was transferred to MESSRS. HUNT & COLE In 1892, being conducted by them on and after March 1st next, under the title of HUNT AND COLE, Late Arding & Hobbs.' The advert goes on to say that the business was established some 12 years since, under the management of Mr Cole from its commencement and that he was succeeded to it in partnership with Mr Hunt nearly two years ago. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004605/18940210/010/0001?browse%20=%20false

AndrewSE19 (talk) 10:01, 6 May 2023 (UTC)

Canadian and English/ provident clothing and supply

When I found a picture of oxleys on the net, after further investigation I found they were owned by Canadian and English Stores, a company created in 1951. In the statist issue 175 page 550, it states it had purchased further department stores from Provident Clothing and Supply. I can't find any further info, as Provident history on the net is more about its financial products (it still exists). Any help on either company and stores they owned will be helpful? Davidstewartharvey (talk) 05:38, 12 October 2021 (UTC)

Canadian and english stores became Northgate and English stores. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 05:50, 12 October 2021 (UTC)

Further investigation found that Northgate and English retail operations became Combined English Stores. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 05:56, 12 October 2021 (UTC)

In the new dawn 1963 edition page 422, it states C&e bought out the Northgate Group in 1962 and changed its name. It owned several department stores, but as its snippet view I can only see a few bits. I can also see a court case in 1969 against Northgate and English by Austin securities which looks like they lost, which created Combined English Stores. Their chairman was a Murray Gordon, which the Fashion Handbook 2004 had him in the same league as Charles Clore and Isaac Wolf's on, but not much else I can find. Some stuff in spectator but I don't have access. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 09:16, 12 October 2021 (UTC)

Further reading of comments on the Londonist page about Lost department stores of London, and taking the preview from New Dawn, it looks like Provident sold the following in 1961:

• north London drapery stores, holloway
• ab williams fulham
• weber of edmonton
• London Drapery Stores, Kentish Town

They went onto buy further stores 6 months later, though not identified, in Birmingham, Croydon, Pontypool, Poole, portsmouth and Burton-upon-Trent. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 09:33, 12 October 2021 (UTC)

Canadian and english 11th annual meeting recorded in the guardian stated they had purchased 10 department stores (probably the Provident stores) and Brown's of Clayton Square, Liverpool. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/259769433/ The Guardian from London, Greater London, England Thursday, June 28, 1962Page:13. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 19:20, 12 October 2021 (UTC)

Canadian bought 2 BB Evans stores from Tesco in 1962 but can't find what the other store was than Kilburn? Davidstewartharvey (talk) 19:54, 12 October 2021 (UTC)

References

John blundell / Lawsons / UDS

While doing research have found John Blundell in Newcastle , previously Howards. Blundells was one of the founders of UDS that I can find, and they seem to either be furniture stores or cash drapers. So far found Newcastle, Ipswich and Bristol but believe there are further stores (Devon, Birmingham) but not sure if they were department stores or just furniture stores. On addition, Blundells purchased a further cash drapers called Lawsons, a Scottish firm, that had stores in at least Dundee and Hammersmith, but not sure if these were department stores or just drapers. Evidence is mostly on chat rooms. Any help please.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 16:39, 3 December 2021 (UTC)

H E Keightley & Son

I have just added Keightleys. Very little available online. Main store was in on two sites in Boston, with department stores in Spalding and Wisbech, but with an outfitters store in Sleaford [14] and possibly an ironmonger store elsewhere. They are mentioned as part of Allued Maples in V&A Archive but not much else.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 17:38, 5 June 2022 (UTC)

see Macowards above for ownership.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 13:26, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

Thomas Brothers Southend-on-Sea

Hi. Reading the book by Dee Gordon called Southend Memories, one of her interviewers said she worked for Thomas Brothers department store on the corner of Southchurch road and Chichester Road, which closed in 1964 and moved to Hadleigh. I can find Thomas Bros. (Southend on Sea) Ltd on a list of companies but that's it. The building is very grand and looks like a department store/drapers. Any help would be great.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 11:18, 25 February 2023 (UTC)

I have now found a picture from Southchurch Road, which shows Thomas Bros the opposite side of the street to the description given in the book [15] and Southend Timeline has them a a drapers[16] though only at 23/25 Southchurch Road, while the picture shows they are at 29 too. I have left for the time being as not sure if it was or was not a department store. Davidstewartharvey (talk) 19:27, 5 March 2023 (UTC)

Campbell & Booker

Hi. Looking into the store that existed in Walton on Thames, i found that this was a diversification plan by Booker Group (refs on page) to move into department stores and furniture stores. I cannot see in the web snippet who the Richmond store was previously, other thsn it was on George Street (though I can only find record for Goslings & Wright Bros who were connected to other firms), and I can't find anything against Ilford (West & Moultons were part of RHO Hills, with Moultons being sold to Selfridges at some point and it wasnt Harrison Gibson, nor Burnes which was Chiesmans), while I think Walton was a store from scratch. Only one i can find is Chart & Lawrence, though only purchase of, snd the store closed in 1999 so must have been sold?Unfortunately Campbell & Booker was one of the company names which was used for various Booker business across the globe.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 14:37, 13 March 2023 (UTC)

Very interesting. I never knew Campbell & Booker were connected to the Booker Group or that there was ever more than the one store in Walton. AndrewSE19 (talk) 17:55, 30 March 2023 (UTC)

Crowden & Keeves

In the 1973 The Stock Exchange Official Year-book, on page 2466 it lists Crowden & Keeves in the Department Store group section along with other recognisable names. I can't find anything online other than they were manufacturers of brushes, pots and pans, and they were wholesalers in Boundary Street Shoreditch which had an electrical and radio department.[17] [18]Davidstewartharvey (talk) 14:17, 17 April 2023 (UTC)

Found that Crowden & Garrod were a subsidiary of Crowden & Keeves, but they are listed again as wholesalers and manufacturers, although an auction house had some furniture for sale that was labelled under this name. Found in a 80s stock periodical that name was changed to Walker & Staff Holdings Ltd, but thus listed as a valves and pipes supplier! The company name also appears in M E Cleasby's thesis mentioned below, as a department store proprietor.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 13:38, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

R Wylie Hill & Co

This one came up in the same 1973 list of department store groups that had Crowden & Keeves. I had always thought that this was Wylie snd Lochead, which became part of HoF in the 50s. However it appears not! They were linked, as Robert Wylie Hill's uncle was a Lochead. The store was based at 20 Buchanan Street [19], which w&l was at 37. Also it mentions both in the same paragraph in Lost Glasgow [20]. Not sure other than Bows Emporium they operated, as can't find anything else other than the business was purchased by John Menzies in 1974.[21]Davidstewartharvey (talk) 16:54, 17 April 2023 (UTC)

More Unknowns

Hi found a thesis by M E Cleasby from 1983 about takeovers in industry and it had a list of department store proprietors. On that list he had the following:

• Sturla, George & Sons ant find any further information on this at all.
• Stavot Zigomala & Co again nothing.
• Telfer & Company can only find a mention of warehousemen on the net.
• Cattle's Holdings this I have found out more. They were a clothing and goods credit company previously known as Hull Clothing & Supply. Only department store I can find is the White House Derby.
• Bremner & Company found them described as "general warehousemen" in Glasgow. Difficult to find as there was shipyard called Dunlop, Bremner & Company.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 13:34, 19 April 2023 (UTC)

Sturla is George Sturla & Sons of Bootle. 9 of these stores were sold to Macowards in 68, but they continued to operate Other businesses like Oakes & Hulme and Sturla Money so still not sure what department stores they owned in 83.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 19:53, 3 May 2023 (UTC)

Some more unknowns, this time from [22] Retail Trading in Britain 1850-1950 page 357. It has list of stores that started to become department stores during the 1870s and 80s. Most are already on the list but these I can't find any other references to:

• Meekins
• Tarns
• Atkinsons
• Owens

Although I am not sure if there were in London, as the author lists Bentalls, Edwin Jones, Lewis as in London.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 19:14, 5 May 2023 (UTC)

Charles Meeking & Co.

There are many adverts for a 'Charles Meeking & Co.' on the British Newspaper Archive website. The company appears between 1855 and 1883 and at various times goods include all types of cloth, Manchester, outfitting, costumes, furniture, carpets.

First appearance of the company -

Bankers' Circular, 3rd February 1855 - advertisement by Charles Meeking & Co. for a sale of carpets and furnishings, address 141 & 142 Holborn Hill, London. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004348/18550203/001/0001

Tailor & Cutter, 20th December 1883 - advertisement for fabrics, address 'Holborn Circus, and 141 & 142 Hatton Garden, London'. This is the last advertisement by the company that I can find. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004079/18831227/078/0002

The business must then have changed hands as this is the next entry

Tailor & Cutter, 3rd January 1884 - advertisement by 'Alfred Brown & Sons late Charles Meeking & Co.', for fabrics, at '111 & 112 Hatton Garden, 8 Holborn Circus and 112, 114 & 115 Holborn, London'. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004079/18840103/085/0002 AndrewSE19 (talk) 08:46, 6 May 2023 (UTC)

William Tarn & Co.

Advertisement in 'Lloyd's List', 16th January 1874 -

'William Tarn & Co.

165-173 Newington Causeway, 5-17 New Kent Road & 1-13 Rockingham Place, London, SE.

Silk Mercers, Drapers & General House Furnishers'. 26 departments are listed in the ad. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000861/18740116/100/0016

The buildings of Tarns are long gone. I think 'The Rockingham Arms' (Wetherspoon) and that whole block in Elephant & Castle is roughly where it was. AndrewSE19 (talk) 22:37, 7 May 2023 (UTC)

Atkinson & Co.

198-212 Westminster Bridge Road, London.

'Middlesex County Times and Ealing & Hanwell Post', 27th May 1905 - advertisement by Thomas Wallis & Co. announcing their purchase of 'the entire stock of the old-established firm of Atkinson & Co.' and a sale to begin on 29th May 1905 'on the premises of Atkinson & Co' as 'it will not be practicable to remove it all to Holborn Circus'.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0002464/19050527/163/0007?browse=False AndrewSE19 (talk) 23:58, 7 May 2023 (UTC)

William Owen

Westbourne Grove and Hatherley Grove, London.

This could well be the 'Owens' store in Retail Trading in Britain 1850-1950.

It fits the era and is similarly situated just outside the central shopping areas of London as are Meekings, Tarns and Atkinsons. All met their demise before 1950. AndrewSE19 (talk) 01:10, 8 May 2023 (UTC)

Thomas Wallis & Co

This company moved from Holborn Circus to Oxford Street after the store was destroyed by fire in the Blitz. The document referenced quotes 454 to 556 Oxford street, but this does not seem right. I have found a picture at the corner of Oxford Street and Marble Arch. Can't find any info on Streatham or Newbury store, Guildford opened 1959 don't think it was another company's previously.Davidstewartharvey (talk) 20:48, 3 May 2023 (UTC)

Thomas Wallis was owned by Maple Macowards.

I found information about Streatham store through searching British Newspaper Archive.

It was opened in October 1957 at 130-132 Streatham High Road. The site/ premises were previously occupied by The Golden Domes Cinema.

I live locally and know Streatham well. I don't remember Thomas Wallis but in the late 1970s/ early 80s I remember the same building being a Tesco with the usual busy supermarket on the ground floor and an escalator on the left hand wall up to Home n' Wear on the first floor which had the same former cinema ceiling as described in the article https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/download/BL/0002308/19571101/064/0003 AndrewSE19 (talk) 23:38, 4 May 2023 (UTC)

Thanks Andrew. Macowards closed or disposed of struggling stores in the late 60s, as part of the deal to shareholder's to fight of James Howell and A.Wilsons takeover offers. J W Coombs was sold off some time before it closed in 69, and the lease for the Oxford Street store of Thomas Wallis was sold to Littlewoods in 69. So probably part of the sell off. Debenhams did a similar thing, selling the Chamberlins/Marshall & Snelgrove store in Norwich to Tesco (though at this point they owned 4 out if 7 department stores in the city!)Davidstewartharvey (talk) 06:58, 8 May 2023 (UTC)