The HOUSE OF FRASER Archive

Company: Della Portas Ltd

Registration number: 2524426

Company name: Della Portas Ltd
Dates in business: 1930-1975

Type of business: Department store retailer

Type of company: Private limited liability company 1930-1975

Locations:
  • The High Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
  • Princess Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England
  • The Square, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England

Company history

Della Portas Ltd, Shrewsbury was first established in 1857 by Joseph Della Porta, who had come to England from Italy about 10 years previously. He opened his first small store on Princess Street, from which he expanded the business by buying adjoining buildings on the corner of The Square. By 1869 the firm was known as J Della Portas Son & Rabnett. Arthur Rabnett was married to Joseph Della Porta's eldest daughter. Rabnett later broke from the partnership with his father-in law to open his own business, and from about 1901 the business was known as J Della Porta & Son. Joseph Della Porta died in 1904 and his son John Lewis Della Porta took over management of the business. When he himself died in 1929 his son Joseph William Della Porta was the last of the family to take an active interest in running the business.

Della Portas Ltd was incorporated as a private limited company in 1930 and acquired premises fronting the High Street. The firm continued to expand and by 1957 had over 40 departments. Della Portas Ltd was bought in 1948 by Hide & Co Ltd, the shares being held by Hide & Co Ltd, Wright Bros Ltd and Great Northern & Southern Stores Ltd, the latter two companies being subsidiaries of Hide & Co Ltd. Also in 1948, Della Portas Ltd bought Edwin Powell & Son, a local drapery business with premises on the High Street. Edwin Powell & Son Ltd was run as a subsidiary company by Della Portas Ltd. Hide & Co Ltd itself was bought by House of Fraser Plc in 1975, who continue to trade from the same premises in Shrewsbury. (2009)

Records held for Della Portas Ltd:

FRAS 1823
Title: Minutes
Date: 1930-1977
FRAS 1824
Title: Memorandums and articles of association
Date: 1930-1946
FRAS 1825
Title: Annual Accounts
Date: 1927-1952
FRAS 1827
Title: Store guides
Date: 1957
FRAS 1829
Title: Staff notices
Date: 1939-c1960
FRAS 1830
Title: Valuation
Date: 1931
FRAS 1831
Title: Wages book
Date: 1929-1930
FRAS 1832
Title: Registers of insurances
Date: 1950-1962
FRAS 1833
Title: Register of members
Date: 1930-1975
FRAS 1835
Title: Store frontage
Date: c1930s
FRAS 1836
Title: Legal agreements and assignments
Date: 1930-1967
FRAS 1837
Title: Della Porta's 100th birthday
Date: 1957
FRAS 1838
Title: Annual returns
Date: 1940-1942
FRAS 1843
Title: Correspondence concerning the contract of JW Della Porta
Date: 1938

Related People and Companies:

Corporation name: J Della Porta Son & Rabnett
Dates of connection: 1967-1901
Connection type:
Corporation name: J Della Porta & Son
Dates of connection: 1901-1930
Connection type:
Corporation name: Edwin Powell & Son Ltd
Dates of connection: 1930-1975
Connection type: Edwin Powell & Son was bought by Della Portas in 1948
Corporation name: Hide & Co Ltd
Dates of connection:
Connection type: Hide & Co Ltd, together with Great Northern & Southern Stores Ltd and Wright Brothers Ltd, bought Della Portas in 1948
Corporation name: Great Northern & Southern Stores Ltd
Dates of connection: 1936-1975
Connection type: Great Northern & Southern Stores Ltd, together with Wright Brothers Ltd and Hide & Co Ltd, bought Della Portas in 1948
Corporation name: Wright Brothers Ltd
Dates of connection: 1936-1975
Connection type: Wright Brothers Ltd, together with Great Northern & Southern Stores Ltd and Hide & Co Ltd bought Della Portas in 1948
Corporation name: House of Fraser Plc
Dates of connection: 1982
Connection type: Hide & Co Ltd, parent company of Della Portas Ltd was bought by House of Fraser in 1975

Access points: Retail trade - Department stores

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