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)

Access points: Retail trade - Department stores