Registration number:

Company name: J Della Porta Son & Rabnett
Dates in business: 1869-1901

Type of business: Department store retailer

Locations:

• 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 Shrewsbury 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

Access points: Retail trade - Department stores