Company:
Derry & Toms
Images
Company name: Derry & Toms
Dates in business: 1862-1973
Type of business: department store retailers
Type of company: Partnership
Locations:- Kensington High Street, London, England
Company history
In 1862, Joseph Toms and Charles Derry went into partnership to run a small drapery shop on Kensington High Street, which had been established by Joseph Toms in 1853. The business expanded and, by 1870, it had acquired seven more shops around its original site. One of these shops was used as a mourning department. The company prided itself on being the main suppliers to the upper classes of South Kensington. In January 1920, the company was acquired by John Barker & Co Ltd, department store retailers, of London. It continued to trade as a separate concern, however. In 1930, a large rebuilding programme was begun. The new building, designed by Bernard George, opened in March 1933, with an elegant restaurant called the Rainbow Room. In 1936, work began on adding roof gardens. These opened in May 1938 and featured a sun pavilion, an English woodland garden, a Spanish garden, a Tudor garden and a flock of pink flamingoes. The store was modernised between 1957 and 1958. John Barker & Co Ltd sold the company in 1971. Derry & Toms closed on 13 January 1973.
Records held for Derry & Toms:
Title: Warrant appointing Derry & Toms furriers in ordinary to Queen Alexandra
Date: March 1920
Title: Scrapbook of newspaper articles on Derry & Toms and Kensington, London
Date: c 1930s
Title: Guest list and table plan for dinner dance in Rainbow Restaurant, Derry & Toms
Date: March 1960
Title: Invitation to and menus from grand balls at Derry & Toms to celebrate Festival of London Stores
Date: 1968-1971
Title: Lists of trademarks and patents
Date: c 1901-1989
Includes trademarks and patents of Derry & Toms.
Title: Valuation of properties of John Barker & Co Ltd and associated companies
Date: 1928
Includes valuations of properties of Derry & Toms.
Title: Register of insurances
Date: c 1936-1958
Includes insurances of properties of Derry & Toms.
Title: Publication entitled Getting to Know The House of Fraser
Date: 1959
Contains an image of the store exterior and the roof garden.
Title: Valuation of properties of John Barker & Co Ltd and subsidiary companies
Date: 1965
Includes valuations of properties of Derry & Toms.
Related People and Companies:
Dates of connection: 1920-1971
Connection type: Derry & Toms Ltd was acquired by John Barker & Co Ltd in 1920.
Dates of connection: 1957
Connection type: Derry & Toms Ltd was acquired by House of Fraser Ltd,as a subsidiary of John Barker & Co Ltd, in 1957.
Access points: Department stores - Drapers - Retail trade
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