Registration number: 130071

Company name: Hammond's Ltd
Dates in business: 1821-1973

Type of business: Department store retailers

Type of company: Private limited liability company 1913

Locations:

• Old North Bridge, Hull, Yorkshire, England
• Osborne Street, Hull, Yorkshire, England
• 1 Paragon Square, Hull, Yorkshire, England
• King Street, Bridlington, East Yorkshire, England

Company history

H W Hammond founded his drapery business, trading as H W Hammond situated on the old North Bridge in Hull, England, in 1821. The company stayed at its original location for 40 years before moving to larger premises in Osborne Street, Hull.

James Powell and his three sons purchased H W Hammond's business in 1889 and the store, trading as H W Hammond & Co in July 1913 and remained a family business until 1972.

Owing to a gradual change in the centre of Hull, a new store was opened in May 1916, which contained elevators and a large restaurant. An escalator was added at a later date. An additional storey was added to the building in 1932.

In 1941, the main building was destroyed during air raids, however, within a week 47 departments reopened in a temporary location and carried on the business. Despite the difficult times spent in the temporary location, the business continued to flourish and plans for a new store were developed. The new building was opened on 16 May 1952. After the completion of the remaining part of the building the business developed considerably. The 3rd floor was opened partially in 1954 and the remainder, which included a restaurant, was opened in 1957. Two years later a hairdressing salon was opened.

In 1960, a new warehouse was opened to house the furniture, carpet and soft furnishing workrooms, the food group office, stock rooms and the packing rooms. It was extended four years later. A fourth floor was added to the main building to create more selling space on the lower floors.

In January 1969, Carlton's department store in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, England, was acquired and within 14 months the old building had been pulled down and a new 30,000 square-feet building was rebuilt on the site. The services in the new store were very similar to the one in Hull.

In May 1972 the store was acquired for GBP8,000,000 by House of Fraser Ltd , department store retailers, Glasgow, Scotland, and the company changed its name from Hammond's Ltd to Army & Navy Stores Ltd on 20 November 1973. The store, Hammond's, situated at 1 Paragon Square, Hull, continued trading as part of House of Fraser plc in 2003.

Access points: Department stores - Retail trade - Drapers