Blacketts were a small department store chain based in the north east of England with its flagship store located in Sunderland.
History
editBlackett & Sons was opened in Sunderland in 1826 by William Blackett, a draper.[1] The business grew from a drapery to a full line department store based on the corner of Union & High Street.[2]
Stores were opened in Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland and Stockton-on-Tees (1939),[3] while they purchased the department store of D Hill, Carter & Company in Hartlepool during the Second World War.[4] During early 1961, Blackett chairman Mr C. K. Rudkin-Jones pursued the purchase of Gorringes Department Store in London, losing out to a joint bid by the Gresham Trust and Charles Neale Investments.[5][6][7] In 1963, the Blacketts group of stores was purchased by fellow department store group Hide & Co.[8]
In 1970, the Hartlepool store was closed, becoming a discount superstore before being converted into The Hill Carter hotel.[9] The Stockton on Tees store was sold to Waring and Gillow, a furniture company.[10] The main store in Sunderland closed in 1972 due to the competition of department stores in the town.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Blacketts on the High Street". Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ "Sunderland's Old Shops in Pictures". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ "Blacketts on the High Street". Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ "Harlepool History Then & Now". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ "Gorringes Sale". The Guardian. 6 January 1961.
- ^ N. A. N. A (March 1990). Register of Defunct Companies. Springer. p. 194. ISBN 9781349112715.
- ^ "Gorringes bid". Belfast Telegraph. 5 January 1961.
- ^ "Retro Closing Time for Store - Sunderland Echo". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ "Harlepool History Then & Now". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ "Blacketts on the High Street". Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
- ^ "Retro Closing Time for Store - Sunderland Echo". Retrieved 4 November 2014.
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