Debenhams
of 91, Wimpole Street, London
1905 Public limited company established to acquired Debenham and Co and Debenham and Freebody. Frank Debenham is first chairman; Ernest Debenham and F. S. Oliver are the MDs.[1]
1906 The architects William Wallace and James Gibson designed a grand new store for the London premises.
1912 Frank Debenham retired as chairman, replaced by Ernest, with Frederick Oliver as his deputy.
Acquired Debenham and Freebody
Acquired Haywards
Acquired Nicholays
1914 The following federated Houses, each being under separate and independent management, were taken over by Debenhams, Ltd., a Company formed in January, 1905:— Wholesale Businesses: Debenham & Co., Warehousemen, Wimpole Street and Welbeck Street, W. Debenham & Co., Warehousemen, St. Paul's Churchyard, E.C.; Debenham et Cie., Agents and Commissionaires, 115, Rue Reaumur, Paris; Debenham et Cie., Agents, Lyons; Debenhams (Australia) Proprietary, Ltd., Melbourne and Sydney; Debenham, Gardiner & Co., Ltd., New York; Debenhams (Canada), Ltd., Toronto and Montreal; Debenhams (South Africa), Ltd., Cape Town and Johannesburg; Debenham's Continental, Ltd., Brussels. Retail Businesses: Debenham & Freebody, Drapers, Silk Mercers, &c., Wigmore Street, W.; Haywards, Lacemen, 11, Old Bond Street, W. Manufacturing Business: Nicholays, Furriers, 76, Welbeck Street, W. Registered Offices: 91, Wimpole Street, London, W.
WWI There was a substantial fall in the so-called "luxury" trade. By 1916 a working relationship had been established with another London retailer, Marshall and Snelgrove, with the idea of preserving retail operations in the war economy.
1919 Full merger with Marshall and Snelgrove who were experiencing financial difficulties.
1920 Took over Harvey Nichols.
1927 Debenhams Ltd acquired a controlling interest in the ordinary shares of the Drapery Trust which controlled a lage number of drapery stores and department stores (including Marshalls Ltd, Footman, Pretty and Co and Swan and Edgar)
Ernest Debenham's final years with the business were marked by increasingly complex financial deals. All of the ordinary shares were held by Debenhams Securities Ltd. The number of subsidiary companies exceeded 30, mostly department stores.
1927 Ernest retired and sold most of his shares in the company, effectively ending the family connections.
1934 Debenhams Ltd, Debenhams Securities Ltd and the Drapery Trust agreed to merge[2]
1973 Debenhams Ltd acquired Lotus[3].
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography of Sir Ernest Debenham, ODNB