Marks and Spencer

jdbythesea · Post by **jdbythesea** » Mon 24 Sep, 2012 9:29 am

This may have already had a mention before on SL but has anybody visited the M&S Archive at Leeds University? I came across details of it here on their website: http://www.marksintime.marksandspencer.comIt sounds fascinating but unfortunately it will be a while before I can book a visit. I just wondered if anyone has any comments to add about it.

Brunel · Post by **Brunel** » Mon 24 Sep, 2012 3:07 pm

Well worth visiting.The main storeroom upstairs was open for tours during the Heritage weekend.The exhibition downstairs is fascinating.

Uno Hoo · Post by **Uno Hoo** » Mon 24 Sep, 2012 4:35 pm

Surprised, but pleased that it's still running. I went at what seems a long time ago now. Very interesting, but I have a vested interest as my first job was at I J Dewhirst Ltd, then at 32 Kirkgate, Leeds. (On corner of Kirkgate/Harper St - building still there, now a fireplace showroom).I J Dewhirst was a wholesale draper who supplied Marks in his early market stall days. Marks asked Isaac Dewhirst to go into partnership, but Dewhirst refused. Tom Spencer, Dewhirst's General Manager, opted to do so instead, so the business became Marks & Spencer instead of Marks & Dewhirst. However, Dewhirst benefitted to the extent that he became a clothing manufacturer to supply M & S, and this side of the business outlasted the wholesaling, and indeed may still exist. It became Dewhirst PLC some years ago. Plenty of mention of all this at the exhibition.

jdbythesea · Post by **jdbythesea** » Mon 24 Sep, 2012 8:43 pm

Uno Hoo wrote: Surprised, but pleased that it's still running. I went at what seems a long time ago now. Very interesting, but I have a vested interest as my first job was at I J Dewhirst Ltd, then at 32 Kirkgate, Leeds. (On corner of Kirkgate/Harper St - building still there, now a fireplace showroom).I J Dewhirst was a wholesale draper who supplied Marks in his early market stall days. Marks asked Isaac Dewhirst to go into partnership, but Dewhirst refused. Tom Spencer, Dewhirst's General Manager, opted to do so instead, so the business became Marks & Spencer instead of Marks & Dewhirst. However, Dewhirst benefitted to the extent that he became a clothing manufacturer to supply M & S, and this side of the business outlasted the wholesaling, and indeed may still exist. It became Dewhirst PLC some years ago. Plenty of mention of all this at the exhibition. I wasn't aware of the Dewhirst connection until now - thanks Uno Hoo.Coincidentally, in Driffield, not far from where I live, Dewhirst's still have a manufacturing unit. They used to have a small outlet shop in the town as well. It sold M&S seconds and the like but it closed a couple of years ago. It seems that most of their operations are based in the North-East these days. They were once one of the clothing manufacturers who supplied M&S but probably lost the contract. Readman's used to sell a lot of M&S seconds as well I seem to recall. Maybe they ceased trading about the same time?

String o' beads · Post by **String o' beads** » Tue 25 Sep, 2012 12:25 am

Dewhirst closed its UK factories about ten years ago and moved production abroad. This I think was the final nail in the coffin of the UK clothing factories, and led to bad feeling about Marks & Sparks, which had always been touted as supporting British workers. There were many complaints about inferior quality subsequently but both have recovered and thrive. Those without their jobs...that's another story.

Brunel · Post by **Brunel** » Tue 25 Sep, 2012 1:09 am

I J Dewhirst Ltd, then at 32 Kirkgate, Leeds. (On corner of Kirkgate/Harper St - building still there,Building has a blue plaque and original DEWHIRST sign.