Thornton’s, formerly Dunn & Co., Lincoln
Introduction
Dunn & Co. was the most recognisable chain of men’s hatters throughout the first three-quarters of the 20th century. By the late 1920s it was also a men’s outfitters. A failure to keep up with changing fashions – which no longer involved hats – led to the company’s demise in the 1990s.
Lush, formerly Dunn & Co., Bournemouth (photo: 2010)
Mr Dunn
Dunn’s was founded by an idealistic Quaker, George Arthur Dunn (1865-1939), who was born and raised in Birmingham. Dunn’s father switched profession to a remarkable degree: leather cutter (1861), hardware dealer (1871), publisher’s manager (1881), then cigar merchant (1901). By 1881 George was working as an assistant to a hatter.
George’s wife, Lucy Day, came from Gloucestershire and in January 1886 they moved to Cheltenham with their first child. George took up work as a grocer’s assistant. The family seems to have moved briefly to Gloucester (where Ellis Randolph Dunn was born in 1886), then to Stoke Newington in north London (where Lloyd Stafford Dunn was born in 1888). By 1889 they had settled at 140 High Street, Shoreditch (now The Golden Horn / Present London). It was probably in London, around 1887, that George Arthur Dunn started his own business as a hatter, and began to open branch shops.
Formerly Dunn & Co, Ilford (photo: 2002)
As Dunn grew prosperous on 3s. 9d. hats, he moved his family to Maida Vale and then, in 1905, to ‘The Aubrey’s’, Redbourne, Hertfordshire. The Dunns were strictly vegetarian – rice cutlets took pride of place on the menu for Ellis Randolph’s coming-of-age party in 1907. All of Dunn’s sons refused, for ethical reasons, to enter their father’s business. Embracing ‘Back to the Land’ principles, they took up experimental market gardening on individual plots adjoining ‘The Aubrey’s’ – land jointly referred to as ‘The Four Brother’s Farm’ – refusing even to mulch their fruit trees and vegetable beds with animal manure. They were granted exemption from service during the Great War as conscientious objectors, on condition they worked as farm labourers. Somewhat inevitably, the story in the local paper was headlined ‘Cranks at St Albans’.
Dunn shared his son’s values, saying: ‘There are a great many things in my business of which I disapprove, and I am scheming gradually to get out of it, to hand it over for the benefit of those engaged in it, with a limit, I hope, to the amount anyone may make out of it before retiring’ (Liverpool Echo, 4 May 1916, 4).
Thornton’s, formerly Dunn & Co., Lincoln
And so, around 1929 Dunn transferred the company to his managers. His retirement project was a ‘food reform’ hydro, the Branksome Dene Hotel in Dorset, which was ‘fruitarian and vegetarian’. Dunn died in August 1939, and his fruitarian hotel died with him.
Dunn’s Shops
At the time of Dunn’s retirement there were around 300 Dunn’s hat shops throughout the country, plus franchises. Already, despite the small size of many of the outlets, Dunn’s had branched out into men’s formal wear.
Middlesbrough in 1923: mock-framed but no stained glass!
It was probably in the 1920s that Dunn’s developed a particularly distinctive form of shopfront which endured as the house style for many years. This had a mock-timber-framed surround, including open spandrels filled with leaded glass. Across the top of the doors and display windows, a band of transom lights was filled with stained glass, depicting the coats of arms of major British cities against a textured emerald green glass ground. Fascias were usually bookended by fluted brackets and bore rounded lettering – ‘Dunn & Co.’ and ‘Hat Makers’ – in a vaguely Celtic font.
Thornton’s, formerly Dunn & Co, Lincoln
The shopfronts are ascribed, on surviving plans, to ‘G. A. Dunn & Co. Estate Department’, but there is no evidence that the company made a habit of designing and erected new buildings – it simply installed its shops in existing premises.
Formerly Dunn & Co., Ilford (photo: 2002)
The olde-worlde style of Dunn’s shopfronts reveals a similar approach to W. H. Smith and Boots the Chemist. The idea of making references to cities where Dunn’s had branches – demonstrating its national reach – can be compared with Burton’s more modern-looking ‘chain of merit’. Indeed, since Dunn’s was also a men’s outfitters this might be viewed as an act of plagiarism – but listing other branches on shopfronts was common amongst multiples in the early 20th century.
The End
Dunn’s performed reasonably through the middle of the 20th century, though the number of shops had dropped to 180 by 1962. By the early 1990s, Dunn’s was facing serious difficulties. Forty shops were sold in 1991 to Hodges, who kept the Dunn & Co name. In 1994, however, a major stake was sold, and just two years later, in December 1996, the receivers were brought in to wind up the business. At that time 130 shops still bore the Dunn’s brand name – this was bought by Ciro Citterio, which itself went into administration in 2005.
Thornton’s, formerly Dunn & Co., Lincoln
Dunn’s, like so many other stalwarts of the 20th-century British High Street, has left a legacy of shopfronts in a national house style, which can still be spotted – once you know what to look for!
Building Our Past 
The Dunns shopfront owned by Lush in Bournemouth has recently been radically changed back to the original pre-Dunn style to match the other original shop fronts in the same building. Wonder what happened to the windows?
LikeLike
Thanks for letting me know – hope they didn’t end up in a skip!
LikeLike
The windows in the Liverpool branch on Ranelagh Street were covered up for about 20 years but were revealed a year or so again when it became a pub: http://c8.alamy.com/comp/GPRP4W/lanigans-irish-bar-in-ranelagh-street-liverpool-city-centre-GPRP4W.jpg
LikeLiked by 1 person
Covered up as Greenwoods: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Pvswzy-DfygTBaH50mMBUq1D94SN5QzAVPFtYUX0zBfH6JkUH6z7YlKluFn2UfGDxXVJ_c33ZzNluzIA=s500
LikeLiked by 1 person
The former Luton store has a “Dunn & Co, Hatters” tiled/mosaic entrance. I have a photo but wouldn’t know how to link to it.
LikeLike
That’s not far away – I will go and look! Thanks Keith!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The forty shops referred to were sold to HODGES not Hedges which was owned by Brian Greenwood who was the brother of the late Denis Greenwood of Greenwoods Menswear I worked for G A Dunn and Co for 30 years and for Greenwoods for 16 years . I worked in the Ranelagh Liverpool Branch of Dunns for 7 years from 1967 to 1974 and in later years in the same building for Greenwoods..During my 46 years in retail I have worked in 40 different branches. Retired in 2007. .
LikeLike
I never worked at Dunn & Co but when I was a child my family used to holiday in Devon at the same hotel as George Pedrick and his family – year after year. George was, I believe a long serving Director of the company. He was such a kindly man and although of an age where he could be forgiven for having little tolerance for other people’s young kids he put up with me being a complete nuisance. We would dig the sand away under the back of his deck chair while we was trying to read in peace and sabotage his pipe with exploding charges sold to children to prank pipe and cigar smoking adults! Anyway such a decent chap left me with a positive view of Dunn and Co – although I never shopped there:
LikeLike
Thanks for that. Mr Pedrick was indeed a gentleman. He was I believe the only man to hold alone the position of Managing Director and Chairman, these were normally held as joint position with another person.. He lived I believe at Hatch End London. I remember that when he retired the staff bought him a sit on lawnmower.He sadly never used it as he passed away a short time after.
Bernard M Whitfield
________________________________
LikeLike
you would know elliot that stupid manager and may be don evans
LikeLike
Lovering Elliot was Manager when I first moved to Ranelagh Street after London Rd Branch closed. I was aware that Ron Trenholme was to take over and Elliot was to retire soon so I had no qualms about moving. to Ranelagh I remember well Don Evans , Harry Raper/Roper and Ken Pinnington.
LikeLike
I remember them all as I worked in the Lord st branch with Peter Jaguar. Ken and Don Evans. I worked for Dunns for 32 years . They were great days that I still have fond memories of. John Hough
LikeLike
When an old shop front was removed from a G A Dunn & Co shop the stained glass panels depicting the various Coats of Arms were returned to the Estates Department for further use. They did have a supplier who made them at a reasonable price but in later years the price became so expensive that the newer branches had Coats of Arms printed on a single sheet of glass.
LikeLike
I worked for the Estates Department as Shopfitting Manager at the Head Office in Royal College Street, Kentish Town. The leaded light windows were removed for re-use elsewhere, if a branch was closed but many were left in situ when the company closed in the mid-1990s.
Following the 1976 retirement and swift death of George Pedrick, he was jointly succeeded as Chairman by William Butterworth and Ronald Hale. The former’s eventual retirement saw Hale becoming sole Chairman for a period, before former Area Director William Forsyth joined him.
In 1988, the disastrous decision to revamp the entire ethos of G A Dunn & Co was undertaken by Hale (sole Chairman once more) and Company Secretary Albert Armstrong. This saw an outsider, Nigel Calladine, brought in and the financial mismanagement that ultimatelg led to the demise of Dunns. I worked at the Head Office from 1975 until 1990. Ade Macrow
LikeLiked by 1 person
When our Corporation Street branch closed I moved across to manage the Limited Edition unit a hundred metres away. However I must have left by the time Mr Forsyth became Joint MD. So for those who didn’t know, thanks. I hope that for the short time he held the position he enjoyed it.
Mike Bradshaw
LikeLike
I have a top hat from Dunn’s it’s in a bit of a sorry state now but still comes out occasionally as of tonight as my son needs it. It also has two metal initials inside, the letters are E& L does anyone know any reference to these.?
LikeLike
The initials which I remember were oval and about a third of an inch high were those of the original purchaser of the hat
LikeLike
My grandfather was Eliis Randolph Dunn. He did work in the business. I have framed copies from the head office staff congratulating him on his marriage(1923) and another on his retirement( no date unfortunately )
LikeLike
Hello Nigel My late father Albert Morgan worked for Dunn’s in Camden Town Office for 50 years and his brother Herbert Morgan worked at the nearby cap factory for 51 years .I use every day a brown wallet embossed in gold letters Dunn and Co founded in 1887.
LikeLike
When the Company celebrated their 75th anniversary in 1962 each member of staff received £1 for every years service. As I had started in 1960 I got the princely sum of £2 ( I was then on around £6 a week plus commission on sales. I did receive one of the wallets and I think that was for the centenary in 1987.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello,
Just found this when browsing (wasting time) on the Internet. My late father worked at Camden Town for 50 years, both in the office and the cap factory at various times. I think your Uncle Herbert must have been the Herbert he used to talk about – apparently he was asked to make a bowler hat for a baby elephant (by a film company) and produced a cracker but would never tell them what he’d used to model it on. He’d actually taken the wooden seat off the toilet and used that to model the frame. He was told he could do very well working in the film industry but preferred the security of working for Dunn’s.
LikeLike
Really pleased to have found something about Dunn & Co at last.
My late father used to work for them…..In fact when he first joined, he worked in the Lincoln branch and also Luton.
When he was called up for war, he was promised by the Dunn family his job would be there for him when he came back.
(The sons of Mr Dunn were conscientious objectors and all worked on or under the land)
On his return after being in Stalag, my father was branch manager of Lincoln but was given the new Nottingham branch in 1950 where he worked until his retirement.
The shop windows were famous with their Oak wood surrounds and a French polisher would come the day after the window cleaner to give it all “the once over”.
He would then work on the inside for the oak wood fixtures and fittings..
The window display stands and boxes would be covered (stapled by the wall gun) with felt and would change colours according to the season.
Yes the stained glass windows were there…..but the shop had a re make and all the original ones were just smashed to bits before throwing away in a skip…… My father managed to save Durham which is now a window for us and the Plymouth one is somewhere wrapped up but slightly damaged.
The “New” style/make of windows were put in, but when the Nottingham branch finally closed they were pulled out and were going to be sent to America as someone had requested and bought them.
As for the Lincoln shop, they suddenly had the phone call to say they were now closed and were not allowed to tell other branches,,,,,,,Strange behaviour indeed.
They were going to experiment in 1987 with a “Younger” look type of shops to encourage the youth of the day. I was given a complimentary baseball jacket, jeans, shirt and suit to try out,,,,,,, I cannot remember the name they were going to call the line of shops…..DC springs to mind. and also Arthurs..but I could be wrong.
Rumours over the demise were rife, one being the collapse of some of the Harris Tweed factories plus the over spend when using a top grade creative agency who started to give the London branches a new feel and look of “Brideshead Revisited” by having expensive pieces of antique furniture and décor within the store and paintings/photographs of Dunn & Co and staff from the past in various sporting pursuits,
I did meet some of the directors and high management team from head office whilst growing up. Have fond memories of talking to them……all very kind and eager to promote the firm.
Not sure if the headquarters that was in Camden Town still have the windows.
Hope this is of some interest…….
LikeLiked by 1 person
The French Polishers we had visited the branches annually and in Lancashire were a father and son team. They seemed to know all the gossip from around the Company The felt covered blocks were brought in in the early 60’s when the new concept of window display was brought in which dispensed with the old idea of filling the windows from top to bottom and front to back with goods on sale because of the belief that men would not come in Inness they saw what they wanted in the window. The new policy was “Space Sells” and windows were dressed in pyramid shaped groups. It was then I started window-dressing as the manager could not cope with the new designs. I was with Dunn’s until they left retail in 1991 (31 years) and thereafter with Greenwood’s Menswear until Iretired 12 years ago.
LikeLike
Hello John,
Your recollections about Dunn’s exploring clothing directed at younger people rings true. I was in my 20’s at the time and save for a Crombie overcoat, the company didn’t stock clothing I’d want to buy. There was a Buying Department and I remember one or two persons there introducing modern suits that I liked but, I felt they were fighting against tradition and though those buyers probably had their finger on the pulse of retail trends,it seemed they were shackled and unlikely to entirely have their say.
That said, we were required to wear suits when representing the Company. Once a year there was a warehouse sale when I could buy a suit for £5 or so. In the days before ‘mix and match’ the suits never fitted off the peg and I had the trousers tailored. The low investment was a happy compromise because inevitably, I’d visit a store and damage the suit by inadvertently contacting a newly painted surface.
After I left, I was told a management consultancy was introduced to advise the then MD/Chairman. If I recall correctly, the management consultancy may have even left his employer to take over at Dunn’s full time. That would have marked a major break in tradition because before, the MD’s/Chairmen were time servers who typically had served their time on the shop floor. I recall talk of ideas to appeal to younger customers but don’t know if that idea gained traction and if it resulted in actual shops.
LikeLike
All this talk of stained glass shop windows I’ve just bought a double sided oval metal Dunns sign . It has two hook hangers so ” where did it hang ?” . Looks to lightweight to be outside in all weather.
Any old staff recall ???
LikeLike
Lovely to discover something on Dunn and Co. history. I previously worked in the drawing office of the Estates Department and produced drawings of the English oak shopfronts and intricate coats of arms. Everything was drawn by hand onto tracing paper using Rotring ink pens. I did some design alteration work on the Ilford store pictured in the article. My uncle Jim Drew worked at Dunn’s before me. And I worked under the direction of Les Fretten and Peter Shadbolt.
The original shopfront designs were expensive to create and the traditional layouts included deep and dark entrance lobbies and in some cases grand staircases to upper trading floors. But these features didn’t suit modernising retail trends. So the Estates Department ran two parallel design and fit-out approaches:
1) Mini-refits for stores that were maybe flagging. This involved reducing the entrance lobbies, which in many cases gained lots of indoor retail space. Alterations often involved cutting and carving to reduce the original oak shopfront. Some refits included modern display systems lining the shop walls and shops on two floors were condensed to one floor. If possible, side entrances were fitted and the old upper floors could be let as office space. Conversions of this type gave Dunn’s another income stream in cases of properties they owned freehold.
2) New fit outs to entirely new stores. In the 1980’s these were characterised by two-tone wooden frieze in the shopfronts instead of coats of arms, which were expensive to make. There was also the question of if the coats of arms were fitting for a retailer with one eye on modernisation. Unfortunately, many of the new store fronts were also made from aluminium frames and while this is typical for most modern retail units today, it marked a major shift in Dunn’s identity.
3) The gaelic shopfront lettering remained and I recall exploring different script sizing and styles – again with one eye on modernisation. But, that idea met with lots of resistance and the newer shop signs were only ever marginally different to those that had gone before.
There were many shop burglaries. This led to putting roller shutters in shopfronts. And it included early use of laminated glass, which in the case of an Oldham store, resisted breakage from someone going at it with a paving slab. We had to think about other security issues too. This included thieves using car jacks to lift off rooflights allowing them to lower themselves into stores and take the goods. Someone was once caught using a fishing rod to hook and remove clothes through the door letter plate. And there was a story of a thief still being on the premises when the police arrived and attempting to pose as a manikin in the shopfront!
During my time at Dunn’s I recall the retail outlets numbered maybe 180 to 200 say. I kept a list on which I highlighted those stores visited in the course of my work. And, a high proportion (maybe as much as 60%) were freehold assets with the remainder being leasehold. Some of the freehold outlets had been in Dunn’s ownership for many years, experiencing enormous growth in capital value, which was much to do with their location on mainstream shopping high streets. A legal advisor to the firm once described the property portfolio as a Pandora’s Box, owing to its apparent value!
Dunn’s demise happened many years after I left and was sad to see. I don’t know the nuts and bolts of the demise but often wondered if the property assets could have been leveraged or alternatively used to keep the company going in one shape or another.
LikeLike
Hi Brendan. This is all fantastically useful and interesting information. Thank you so much for sharing it. K
LikeLike
Many thanks for sharing that piece of information about the fronts etc….. My father who was the manager of Nottingham Listergate would shout at anyone caught sticking their chewing gum on the shop front….. In those days you could do that!!!!!
LikeLike
I understood that a large part of the property portfolio was in the assets of the Pension Fund
LikeLike
Hi Brendan. Thanks for a very interesting contribution. As the last manager and only manager in the new branch in Oldham which closed in 1991 I do remember the glass breakages. In one weekend we had 3 windows broken and that after they had already been replaced with laminated glass. Even though the police station was 200 yards away the theives still found enough time to stand in front of glad and makes hole large enough to steal goods from the display. I understood from Les Fretton that the company carried the cost of replacement glass as the cost of insurance was prohibitive. Following the damage during that weekend it was decided to install security shutters. A branch I worked in for seven years was Ranelagh Street Liverpool and that in 1967 was typical of the deep fronted store with an arcade style entrance and a huge oak staircase going up to another sales floor and another staircase leadin to a second storages and staff rooms on the second floor Later years saw bothered upper floors rented out.
LikeLike
Hello Bernard,
I do remember talk of the company contributing to the beneficiaries of the pension fund (the former Dunn’s employees) but don’t know if this involved leveraging the property or directing sales income into the fund. Evidently, the Oldham branch suffered persistent attacks. I also worked on the refurbishment of the Ranelagh Street, Liverpool branch. The drawing office joined the Display Department. That department had a mock shop display. They’d dress the displays using felt wrapped riser blocks and manikins, photograph the arrangement and then print the photographs in their own dark room. The display prints were then sent to the shops to copy. Though I don’t know how they dealt with the fact that some shops had small display areas while others had comparatively large displays owing to the original cavernous entrance lobbies. There was a school of thought that the old lobbies hindered sales because they were dark and uninviting. They also meant too much stock was displayed outside the shops rather than inside.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I followed the display plans which were very adaptable to most display windows. We did get a directive to remove the doors which blocked the view into the branch. That was a completely different concept to the way the shopfronts were in the Branch I started in in St Helens which originally had a shopfront dating from around 1914 with a display case blocking the view through the entrance door. The display widows in 1960 were both around 12 ft wide by around 8ft deep and had to be dressed so they were completely full front to back and top to bottom. I remember the Area Manager insisting a cap being placed onto an uncovered spot on the window bed. Every item of stock had to be represented in the displays. I believe in those days it was thought that men would not come in to shop unless they could choose first of all from the window displays
LikeLike
I worked from 1970 to 1991 at the kettering branch.The site has now become a bakery,but the original oak frontage remains,but without the stained glass panels.
LikeLike
The drawing office retained all the tracing paper shop drawings in metal cabinets on suspended hangers. When I began, the country was already on metric measurement. Most shop plans were drawn to a scale of 1:50 and with larger details produced at 1:20 or 1:5 say. But, we were also required to work on old tracings when modernising a store. Those floor plans were traditionally drawn at a scale of 1/4 inch to 1 foot. This converted to a metric equivalent of 1:48 and we bought special scale rules to allow working this way.
Architecturally, we had to identify with terminology like ‘stallrisers’ which was the panel between the pavement and window cill. I gather the term came from traditional riser blocks used to elevate market stalls. Those panels were originally in oak but again, they were deemed expensive and in non conservation areas, ceramic tiled panels were used instead. The ‘pilasters’ were the column facings that framed the shopfronts on each side. These could be any combination of oak panelling, tiling and in some cases we used stone like travertine marble. This was an area in which the local planning authority might take interest and to some extent they could dictate requirements to feature in the finished design. The glazed panels and arched ends were generically termed ‘spandrels’ and that term is still in use today on modern buildings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Brendan interesting to read of your involvement in the redesign of the Ilford Branch shop front. I was there as a 16 year old shop boy when work began around 1956/7. The work was a massive undertaking which lasted over several months although we remained open throughout. Even on our half day closing a couple of volunteer staff would take turns in staying behind for security reason . I don’ t know if they were paid but I know I
wasn’t. Any way the end result was a state if the art frontage that we were all proud of. Well Done.
LikeLike
More stories about the Nottingham branch on Lister Gate near the Broad Marsh……… Reading the most recent posts have jogged a few memories…… I do have a photo of my father standing in the original entrance with the Mosaic floor which all went when they had a make over…. I will have to find it…..Also an image of the windows from the 50’s when everything that was being sold was on view…….There was only the one sales floor with a little office…..to get to the staffroom there were some narrow winding stairs. The room was very primitive with just a table and chairs…sink and a toilet. but you could hear the lift going up to the floors above us.
There was a side entrance to get to the upstairs floors but no idea if Dunns owned the whole building.
The offices were supposed to be for law firms but one year it was discovered that is was being used as a high class escort agency at night time where clients would arrive and the ladies would come down from the top floor to be chosen.
My father had to be on a police raid!!!!….You could get through to the side entrance/lift/office stairs through the shop. At closing time he had to wait a few hours with a number of police men to unlock the fire exit!!!!!…. I remember my mother telling my father to take care but don’t bring home a prostitute…….When he had gone I asked my mother what was a prostitute and was told..”Ask your father!!!!”
The raid was a success and the place closed down, but my father was told that he and the rest of the staff could help themselves to all of the furniture in the two floors. We had two office chairs, but the young staff members took the rest as a couple of them were getting married and setting up their homes. This would be the late 60’s early 70’s
When Nottingham finally closed, it first turned into the Games Workshop……but the floor started to warp and after a safety check it was found that the floor would collapse into the cellar below.
They moved out and a café opened and turned the cellar into part of it’s establishment. It was there for quite some time.
Santander Bank then took over still using the cellar area as part of it’s premises.
In recent years it has become a charity shop……but you would not guess that it was once part of Dunn & Co.
Hope these tales amused you and I will try and find the photographs……
LikeLiked by 1 person
I worked at the Nottingham shop for three years after transferring from Sheffield when my parents moved back to Nottingham. I have fond memories of Dunn and Co and could relate many many funny stories about what we used to get up to
LikeLike
My father, Bill Davidson-Page joined Dunn & Co before the war. His job was kept open and he returned there at the end of the war. He was Manager of Twickenham, Elephant & Castle, London where The Crays bought their hats, he then moved to Staines and finished his career in Aldershot.
He retired in 1986 and died shortly afterwards. We lived above the Wimbledon shop for 16 years.
LikeLike
I still lament the passing of Dunn’s. Their presence on our local High Street (Wembley) maintained a sense of respectability long after the ambience of the general area turned a little lackluster.
I recall in the late 70’s, in my late teens, buying an olive green Tweed jacket – not at all fashionable at that time, but absolutely desirable in my eyes, and wearing it throughout the late 70’s and early 80’s. Maybe I was the only Punk and New Wave fan at the time sporting the look, but I didn’t care – it was (and still is) my favourite Tweed.
The same pattern can still be found in Vintage stores and online – I just bought a new overcoat in the same fabric!
I’ve often wondered how Dunn’s sourced their Tweeds – I’d love to know about their providence and the official names of the patterns.
LikeLike
I always understood that Dunn & Co were the largest retailers of Hand Woven Harris Tweed in the world. When I started work in the St Helens branch 59 years ago the cost of a Jacket was £6-5shillings. When the company based in Camden Town closed in 1991/2 the cost was approaching £90. When Dunn’s had Jackets at £6+ their northern competition Greenwood’s Menswear were retailing just two patterns at £4/17/6. The pattern you describe was for quite a time the best seller and the same pattern was used for an overcoat at £9/9/0,a hat at around £2 and a cap at 14/6. Hard to believe that the tweed was all hand woven.
LikeLike
Thanks Bernard. Incredible to think that those fabrics are still around today and still performing well. The workmanship (Workpersonship?) on all the garments was I think exceptional by today’s standards.
I also recall the dedication and knowledge of the people I encountered in Dunn’s stores over the years. Very knowledgable and great service as a general rule.
LikeLike
Wow, this stuff is fascinating. I am the great-great-granddaughter of G A Dunn, and the last Dunn in this line at least ….how interesting to hear all these stories.
LikeLike
Hello Jill, I am a great great grandson of G A Dunn.My grandparents were Randolph and Hettie Dunn, my mother was Monica Dunn. Hello cousin. regards Nigel Cooper
LikeLike
Hello Nigel and Jill,,,,,, This is exciting to read about you two finding each other. Don’t panic I am NOT related!!!!,,,,,,, Just a thought for the pair of you. Ever considered writing a history on the family and how the business was created?… After all over the years it was a very iconic shop in looks etc. I also feel the history behind the sons during the war would make an added bonus and twist to the normal war tales, and also how George A. Dunn helped his workers would also be another way of promoting the interest.. Being a Quaker could be a chapter on it’s own. You also could gather inputs from ex staff.
I would be very happy to help over the Nottingham branch and about my late father who was the manager there.
With all good wishes to you both…… John
LikeLike
Hello Jill and Nigel, my brother and I are the great grandson and great grand daughter of George A. Dunn. Our mother, an only child, was the daughter of one of George’s sons…our grandfather! Not giving names out at this stage, but we have plenty of photos etc…Chris and Tony
LikeLike
Hallo Jill,My wife & I bought the house we currently live in 38years ago & were told at the time that it was built by Mr Dunn for himself & his sister to live in.The address is : Ladygrove,Hudnall Common,Little Gaddesden,Berkhamsted,Herts.He also built the houses on either side of us for his chauffeur & gardener respectively.We have never been able to confirm this & I wonder if you can shed any light on it & Mr Dunn’s life at that time.Your comments would be very much appreciated.Thank you,Ralph Billen.
LikeLike
Hi. My Fathers second marriage was to a lady called Vera Margaret Dunn who was originally married to a Mr.Dunn (who ran a Dunn’s Hatters Shop In Muswell Hill) . I know that she had three children – the eldest I believe was called Pamela. I am trying to put together a family tree for my children and grandchildren and was wondering if you have any knowledge of Vera and her family? I look forward to your help – kind regards Wenda Giusti
LikeLike
Hi not sure how correct and where in line of the family this maybe.As only my mother is around to confirm some of the information.
I was told throughout my life that my Great Grandmother was in the Dunn family…but became estranged because she married a gentleman from the lower classes.
LikeLike
I am trying to trace my family with potential lost sisters. It is possible that the Mrs Dunn (your great grandmother) married my Father. Would you mind asking your mother and letting me know whether her name was Vera Margaret Dunn? The Dunn shop was in Muswell Hill London N.10
LikeLike
Hello John,
I wish that my knowledge was good enough
to be able to help you unfortunately it is restricted to very little I learned as a young child. The adult version of me would be fascinated to know more.
Regards. Nigel Cooper
LikeLike
I sure my father`s one and only job, Mr John K Jones, was for G A Dunn & Co.
He`s family worked at the Woolwich Arsenal ammunitions factory in south London during the war and I believe he joined at the 064 Woolwich branch shortly after, I`m sure that his job was kept open whilst he completed he`s national service. I know he managed the old Deptford and Hammersmith branches and I believe was involved, along with our old family friend Mr Maurice Mitchell, with the final sell off/closure of the Strand branch which he found heart breaking.
I myself can perhaps be regarded as a some what Dunn & Co addict as not only did I work as thirteen year old Saturday boy for Dunn & Co I was actually born in Dunn`s accommodation above the Eltham branch in 1961. I worked in many branches including 024 Oxford Street, 061 Regent Street and many others in and around London and still remember a visit Royal College Street before leaving the company, against my fathers wishes, in the eighties.
IS THERE AN OFFICIAL DUNN & CO DISCUSSION/REUNION GROUP?
My father, now in his eighty ninth year and with fading body and mind still regards the Dunn`s years with greatness, so an extremely big thank you to all the remaining Dunn & Co family.
LikeLike
I’m thrilled to see former members of Dunn & Co staff posting such fond memories here – I enjoy eavesdropping on your chat! I may even include some of your information in my forthcoming book about British chain stores – acknowledging my sources, of course, unless you object! A big thank you from http://www.buildingourpast.com!
LikeLike
Hi there . I worked for Dunns from 1970 through to closure i 1991 in the Kettering branch. However during that period I spent many months working temporarily in London working in the west end branches in the summer.I remember the managers Mr Mates at Piccadilly.Mr Baker at Regent street and Mr Vale at Oxford Street. I also remember Jack Faulkner area director.I also worked in the Islington branch and also Woodgreen.Dunns were always keen to move us about.
LikeLike
Hi David.I also worked at the Oxford st branch under Mr Vale.I was forever being told of for being late😂.I started at the Liverpool st branch working with Tony and the managers name was Dereck but can’t think of his surname .Other names I remember..Len who worked in Oxford st
LikeLike
I recall Mr Starling as manager of Oxford Street Branch
LikeLike
Any idea where this Dunn is? In London somewhere. Video from 1963. In German. I am kinda fixated on Richmond, Surrey in the High Street.
LikeLike
Not Richmond that was our Clapham junction shop you can see adding and hobbs store.i was a driver 1969 to 1979
LikeLike
Hallo christopher.I remember your dad.I met him at woolwich(T76)Ted Hodge was the manager.Ernie Haylock.I worked at Eltham branch as well.Mcdonnell was the manager
So long ago now.I was only 16..72 now
Please say Hallo to your dad please.I am Mark Savage
LikeLike
Hi Mark,
Very sad to report that my Dad, John Jones passed away in February this year, luckily just before this awful pandemic. We`re still trying to process dads wardrobe of Dunn`s clothes and memorabilia as dad was a bit of a hoarder, finding It quite difficult.
The names you quote though do give me some light relief, Ted Hodge, The old Gent, was there ever a greater tea drinker?. I started in early 1974, Dunn & Co had just I believe modernised and gone computerised and metric, I recall seeing T76 Woolwich on old packing boxes but it was 064 Woolwich when I started and customers were no longer 36W x 30L trouser it became 92W x 76L. I don`t think I ever met Ernie Haylock but I do recall the name, I was actually born in the flat above the Eltham branch in 1961,and as for “Mack” at Eltham well what can you say another great character! Mr Bowden was our Area Manager initially followed by Mr Forsyth.
I do recall a Mrs Savage and a Mrs Marsh at the Woolwich branch I think Mrs Marsh was a seamstress, did you ever work with Peter Cooper who became Manager of Rye Lane Peckham after leaving Woolwich in 1973/74?
Best regards
C J Jones.
LikeLike
Hallo Christopher.Just read your post.Sorry to hear about your dad.You mentined Mrs Savage well,that was my mum,she was the cleaner at woolwich…I do remember peter cooper as well…so long ago
LikeLike
Hi David Skelham,
I wonder if our paths crossed?
I was asked to help out in Oxford Street in 1977, the Queens Silver Jubilee, by my then area director Mr Bill Bowden and I stayed for several years. I recall, Derek Vale, Derek Poole, Peter Elias, Mike Ford, Alastair Dinsmore and Roland Cooper also John Young the morning porter. I also remember Jack Faulkner, Mr Armstrong, Mr Cunningham, Les Fretten and Dennis Breese from Head office I believe Mr Butterworth and Mr Hale were joint managing directors then as Mr Pedrick had retired.
Do you recall the spiral staircase to the spooky basement which had once been a second trading floor where some of the fixtures remained with water damaged walls block glass ceiling to the pavement above and the half blocked staircase?
I do recall many staff from all over the country helping in the west end Dunns placed them in lodgings around the New Oxford street area for several weeks at a time a guy from Hartlepool with round rimmed glasses springs to mind as he returned many times but I cant remember his name.
These were boom years we reached our weekly sales targets usually on a Wednesday night, Harris Tweed was king! Coats, jackets, Deer stalker, Irish walking hats, helmets trilbys and caps were made in all the same HT4311 or was it HT4611? cloth the old faithfull green/brown colour. I can still recall Harris Tweed jackets being packed In a cardboard Dunn & Co box wrapped in brown paper strung and finally a red wax stick melted onto the string before being taken to Soho Square Post office for despatch to the USA by surface mail where if available, were 3 x our price!
These were really great days.
LikeLike
4311 – Dark green patterned Harris Tweed; I remember it well. Sadly ended it’s life in Limited Edition shops at £19.95 (tremendous bargain if you were a regular 36!)
LikeLike
Dunns store appears in a German film from 1963. It’s in London somewhere. Can anyone identify the locatoin plz. Thanks.
LikeLike
Clapham junction shop
LikeLike
My father, George Pedrick, worked for Dunn & Co for over 50 years. If I remember rightly a school friend told him that there was a job going at Dunns and as the 14 year old son of a WW1 widow he went and enquired, and was offered the job. He was taken on as a tea boy and some 30 years later he became Chairman and Managing Director, I believe the first person to hold both roles.
Dunns was very much part of my early life. Each year the Maxsum Athletic Club (Dunns Sports’ Club) would hold its sports’ day on their premises at Mill Hill. There would be tug of wars, pillow fights and athletic races for adults and children. My mother would often present the prizes.
I remember many names – Mr Armstrong, Mr Haddock, Mr Hale, Dennis Breese, Mr Arnold, Mr Butterworth, Mr Crossman, Mr Barr, Mr Bannard, Mr Fairburn, Mr Lloyd, Mr Carlile and many faces whose names have slipped my memory for which I apologise. The one person I could never forget was Bob Thorley who drove my father and his colleagues all over the UK in the black 3 cylinder Rover. Bob had learnt “The Knowledge” and was invaluable getting around London. He was the smoothest driver I have ever known and when Dad returned from every branch visit Bob would always come into our house in Cedar Drive, Hatch End to have a well earned cup of tea. We were all very fond of him and loved to hear about his life and family.
As I grew older I would sometimes call in to my father’s office in Royal College Street. First door on the left, I think, and he would be sitting behind his large desk with a substantial, well used, ink blotter in front on him. We would sometimes go for lunch to the Freemason’s Arms pub on Hampstead Heath.
My father was a kind, down to earth and private man with a lovely sense of humour. Totally unpretentious, there was a lot he kept to himself. His relaxation was his family and garden, the latter being quite beautiful, despite the fact that he couldn’t draw a match box! His gardening clothes were always full of holes and people would sometimes ask him if he could direct them to Mr Pedrick! He was married for 37 years to my mother who was an amazing support for him. Their love continued until his death in 1976. She sadly died in 1993.
I was delighted to see that he hadn’t been forgotten and thank you for this opportunity to write about him. I am very proud to be his daughter but I am also extremely proud that he never forgot he started his journey with Dunns by making the tea.
LikeLike
Hello Fiona – I remember you and your family very well. You probably read my post in this thread above, with the photo of your parents and me in pirate fancy dress circa 1968/9 at Saunton Sands Hotel. Those holidays felt like they went on for so many years – but in reality, it was probably just 4 or 5 years in the late 60s. Your father was indeed a very kind man, the epitome of the post-war, understated English gent. Isn’t it remarkable that he left such an impression from just an annual holiday meet up more than 50 years ago? I have a couple more photos I could share with you if you drop me an email to stephenallenuk@hotmail.com
LikeLike
As a young man I met your father in his roll as Chairman and Managing Director. He had a reputation as a very caring man..His position was unusual as I believe G A Dunn laid out in the terms of the trust that there should be joint Chairmen and Managing Directors but however he seemed to get away with it and the the Company was the better for it. I remember on his retirement the staff presented him with a Sit on Lawn Mower but sadly he passed away so soon after retirement
LikeLike
Dear Fiona
My late father (Denis Evans) also started work at Dunn’s aged 14. A neighbour told him the business in Kentish Town needed a boy to go out with the delivery van in London and he did that for about six months before being moved into the factory (years later he could still reel off the locations of all the shops). He never made director but worked variously in the office, jacket department and cap factory for the rest of his working life. I recognise all the names you mention as people he often spoke about (he was friends with Bob Thorley). He talked about your father and always thought he was the best and nicest of all the directors and was sorry when he retired. He also remembered being sent to deliver something to your home once (can’t remember what) and when your mother realised he was going to miss his lunch she insisted on making him something.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing these lovely memories.
LikeLike
Dear Fiona
We must have known each other as my father, Frank Neville started as an office boy, I think in 1937/38. He was called up and went to war, coming back to Dunns to design shopfronts and eventually becoming Estates Director until retiring in 1979. He always admired Mr Pedrick. LIke Michael and Nicholas Bannard we went to the Maxsim Athletic Club every Sunday and played tennis. The annual sports day was always a great event. I also recognize many of the names and Mr. Armstrong contacts me annually. i do have some old photographs of Dunns events obviously with your father in them.
LikeLike
I have some old photos of the football teams, but I can’t work out how to post them on here. I think whoever started the post has to give permission for me to post somewhere in settings?
LikeLike
Dear Fiona
I made a mistake with the date Frank Neville joined the company. I think it was probably 1928/29 when he would have been 15 or 16.
John
LikeLike
Hello Fiona, I worked for Coop & Company in Dorning Street Wigan from 1971 until the sad day of its closure around 1990.
The majority of the people you mention are familiar to me, I of course knew Ian very well he was very stylish and drove his car a lovely white Triumph Stag which as a young lad I was filled with envy.
My days working for Dunn & Co, via Coops were very enjoyable and it was only when it closed did we realise what we had all lost, a caring company that really thought about the staff.
The demise of GA Dunn and Co. caused mainly by the laws which were introduced by the government of the day, relating to pension funds caused the loss eventually of hundreds of loyal and proud employees.
My wife of nearly forty years met at Coops and we both miss and reminisce about those days.
LikeLike
It was lovely to read your happy memories of working for Coop & Company. I well remember Ian’s Stag – I think it broke it’s cylinder head and sadly met it’s end! However many congratulations on your 40th wedding anniversary.
Fiona
LikeLike
Fiona I remember your father very well especially when i was promoted to branch manager .Weston super Mare.1974.He was at the opening wearing white lucky heather from his garden and supplied me with the same.
He was such a lovely gentleman and loved by all the staff.
Ron Barton
LikeLike
Thank you for our lovely comments. Yes he loved the heather in his garden which reminded him of his Scottish ancestry. He would have been so touched to read these kind things that people are saying.
LikeLike
Dear Fiona, I was broowsing the web whilst in lockdown and came across this site and your comments on Dunns. It was nice to hear you remember my father Harry Bannard, my uncle Ernie Haddock and a number of other Director and employees I also recall. My dad joined Dunns as an office boy and retired after 49 years. He and your father worked closely together for many years and were good friends. I remember your father as being a very kind and genrous man. I have fond memories of regular weekends at the Mill Hill sports ground where my parents played tennis and my brother Nick and I got up to mischief oround the adjoining countryside with the other kids. Happy days! Take care and keep well.
LikeLike
Thank you Mike – I remember your lovely parents very well and yes they were good friends of my parents as well as Mr and Mrs Haddock. Lots of happy memories. I hope you are keeping well.
LikeLike
Nice to hear from you Mike Bannard! I too have fond memories of the weekends at the Mill Hill Sports Ground – both parents ( Win & Frank Neville) playing tennis & also Sports Day. I loved playing in the surrounding trees & ditches! Great fun! Very happy days.
LikeLike
Hello Mike,
Good to hear your comments. Janice had heard about this website from Nick and it is absolutely fascinating, bringing back many memories and names of people who worked at Head Office alongside our fathers.
LikeLike
I worked
LikeLike
Thank you for this fascinating story – reading the comments it brought back memories. My father Frank Neville was the Estates Director for Dunn & co. But I recognise many names!
LikeLike
How do you add a photo to this thread?
LikeLike
I’ll try to find out for you.
LikeLike
I worked for Dunn & Co from 1968 ( 8th of August to be precise…first job…bound to remember that !). I was working at the ‘new’ Bromley branch ( in the ‘Glades’ shopping centre ) when they were finally taken over by Ciro Citterio Which despite sounding somewhat Italian were in fact an Asian company from Bradford ( I think ). Even today I see ( every now and then ) items for sale on Ebay or see somebody wearing something that came from Dunn’s ( SERIOUSLY ! ) …always makes me chuckle to see how long some of the things I used to sell have lasted so well 🙂
LikeLike
Hi
I recall working at the Bromley branch in the High Street, a rather long narrow shop with a couple of stairs to a higher level I recall. Pat Malloy was the Manager did you keep in touch?
LikeLike
I worked with Pat Molloy In The strand, in the early 60’s a nice bloke with a razor sharp wit.
LikeLike
Hello Everyone….The comments and recollections herein brought back many memories of my time working at the Southend on sea branch back in the sixties. I joined straight from school in 1965 at 15. I was offered 2 jobs by the careers service, trainee telephone engineer or Dunns. I preferred to wear a suit rather than a boiler suit so Dunns it was. Southend branch was very much the traditional layout all oak and stained glass. Serving customers was strictly allotted to the senior assistants first and the juniors only stepped forward to serve when told to. The shop fittings were all dark wood with long counters and hat shelves reaching up to the high ceilings, needing wooden steps to reach the top ones. As a junior it was my job to wrap up and post items to other branches where they had a customer for them. The parcels had to be immaculate and sealed with the iconic Dunns sticky tape. I was paid 5 guineas a week plus commission which could amount to as much as 25 shillings. Certain items attracted double commission and were always pushed if possible. Who remembers the hat forming machines where the shape of a customers head was punched onto a cardboard template to retained by the customer for the next time he bought a hat, or the copper steamers that were used to spruce up customers hats free of charge. I also attended the Dunns school of window dressing above the Kilburn branch. Each branch used to be sent various items for the current window display so every branch window had a similar themed isplay. Happy days
LikeLike
I have very fond memories of working for Dunn & Co. I joined when I left school in the late 60’s and work in various branches around London. Victoria Street, Strand, Piccadilly, Monument, Fleet Street, Oxford Street, Regent Street, Peckham, Woolwich, Catford. I stayed for 4 years and thoroughly enjoyed it. I remember many names from this time; in particular our area manager who was Mr. Bowden. Everyone seemed to think that he was a fearsome character butI liked him very much. Eventually I left to join my chosen profession and he went to great pains to talk me out of it. Happy days!
LikeLike
Sat up in bed reading about GA Dunn & Co and thinking about all the good times and all the good people I worked with from 1970 to 1991. Enjoyed reading about the old days too and the family members of the well-known names. Mr Pedrick was MD when I started in 1970 but only for a short time, as soon afterwards Mr Butterworth & Mr Hale took over.
I was Manager of the Birmingham Corporation Street store from 1985-1991, but began my Dunn & Co career at 75 High Street, Sheffield where Bill Westcott was the Manager, Also worked at 64 The Moor in Sheffield, under the management of Roy Madeley.
My best friend Kieth Watson sadly died about seven years ago. He was the manager of the Doncaster store and before that – York.
Area Directors become Area Managers during my time and I fondly remember Les Martin and Malcolm Moore. The latter using his influence to procure the Birmingham store manager’s position for me.
Served several well known personalities over the years, namely; Warren Mitchell, Bruce Forsyth, Tommy Cooper, The Three Degrees! Russ Abbott, Bruce was the one I enjoyed serving most, as he was exactly how you saw him on TV. (unlike Alf Garnett) mmmm……..
Be nice to keep this thread going, so anyone remembering me or others from this era; please contribute.
LikeLike
Hi Michael.
A piece I posted to FB a few weeks ago
The now demolished corner of London Road and Fraser Street shown in a photo from 1994. The building still shows the pre-war shopfront of G A Dunn & Co..In 1966 I was asked to take over as caretaker manager for the last 11 months of trading and the branch closed in 1967..By then London Road had nowhere near the footfall which was enjoyed by Dunn’s other two Branches in the city ( Ranelagh St. and Lord St)and it was also plagued with break-ins and window breakages..like many of the old buildings around there it was somewhat rat-ridden and indeed on my first day there we found one in the toilet pan down in the basement. We were kept entertained on Saturdays as there was a nightclub occupying the upper floor and the bands used to rehearse then..Further along Fraser Street was the (New) Shakespeare Theatre which burnt down in the 1970’s
The manager from the war years until he retired at the age of 60 in 1960 was a man called Sydney (Sid) Dunn who lived in Moss Bank in my home town of St. Helens ..He could relate many stories from the old pre-war days at Dunn’s . He had been manager of the better Lord Street Branch until the time The Ranelagh Street Branch was burnt down on the same night that the Lewis’s and Blacklers Stores were lost in the blitz. The manager of the old Ranelagh Street Branch saw the store go up in flames from the steps of the Adelphi Hotel..As the senior manager he was transferred Lord Street and Sid was moved to London Road…..he never forgave the one who had taken his place in Lord Street who by the time of his retirement was his Area Director..
I started at the St Helens Branch on 23rd August 1960 and remained until the old company left retail in 1991. You probably replaced Peter Jagger in Birmingham who by coincidence is the person I replaced in London Road Liverpool. I have vivid recollections of working with him in in the other Liverpool branches. I also have memories of Roy Madeley from his days as manager of Market Street Manchester. Les Martin followed W.L Wright as Superintendent,Area Director or Area Manager as they were called at various times .For a period between the two we had Mr Nelson..Also worked for a time with Ted Ward as my area manager. Machin being the last one before closure.I First met Malcolm Moore when he managed the Chester Branch .
Below is another piece I posted to FB on the 60th anniversary of my starting work.
Sixty years ago on August 22nd August I went to the Youth Employment Office which was then in the YMCA building in my home town of St. Helens. I had fancied a career in Commercial Art. The Youth Employment Officer said to me “Well lad do you want to go down the pit?? No this lad did not have that in mind by any stretch of the imagination. “Right lad there is a job going at Dunn & Co in Church Street do you want to apply”. I did and so armed with a card he had given me off I went. A brief interview and the manager said “when can you start” to which I replied “tomorrow “ So on Tuesday 23rd I began a career in retail which lasted 46 years with 30 at Dunn’s and 16 at Greenwood’s Menswear. It was a great surprise to receive a letter just a couple of weeks ago from a gentleman who had started at Dunn & Co Head Office in 1942 the year before I was born. He is now 92 years old and he worked his way up from one of six messenger boys to the role of Financial Director of the Company and Company Secretary. I wrote back to him and was pleased to receive a call from him. The call lasted two hours and from him I learnt a lot of the history of the company and the story around many of the men I remember from the Sixties
LikeLike
HI Michael I remember you when you were manager at the Bedford branch. And I believe you know Peter Seekings .He was my area manager before we closed
LikeLike
Hi David
Apologies for not replying sooner. I’m afraid this site is not one I frequent so often! I remember you well and trust that you are in good health. How times change; I haven’t worn a suit for many years, except evening dress for my choir performances and the occasional cruise. Mr Dunn would turn in his grave!
You may be aware that Peter Seekings passed away a few years ago at the age of 82. His wife died soon after I think.
Anyway – thank you for your post and best wishes for the future.
Kind Regards
Mike Bradshaw
LikeLike
Hi Michael thanks for getting back and looks like your ok. Are people like Malcolm Moore still about and also Mr Forsythe? Also Mr Hale? Terry Raymond moved to France. As for me still living in Kettering .Have spent most of my life after Dunns working for the health service
LikeLike
Not heard anything about these people I’m afraid. There was talk many years ago that Malcolm Moore may eventually emigrate to be with his daughter in Canada. I think she was a doctor there.
Bill Forsyth was living in Tilehurst, Reading when he was a Director, so he may still be there. I’m guessing that both will be in their early eighties.
Terry Raymond is a name I had forgotten, but now remember him as a very smartly dressed chap who was well spoken and helpful. Liked him and wish him well.
LikeLike
Would any of your contributors remember selling green trilby hats with a red band and a feather sewn into the side known as Robin Hood Hats? The label inside states, G.A.Dunn & Co. Piccadilly Circus – 373.4.5. Strand – 54-56 Oxford Street. I purchased the hat circa 1960’s and have been wearing it ever since. The quality and workmanship is excellent.
My family business, A. DE’ATH & SONS, Mitcham, Surrey, laid the flooring in many of your shops at that time in and around London and suburbs, Royal College St., and Luton.
Linoleum Sheet Flooring with large squares, colour terra cotta with cream borders was laid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Robin Hood hat probably extended the wearing of hats by men by a few years. The company sold quite a few priced at 40 to 42 shillings. I don’t recall the Style having a red band though as the very narrow brimmed ones had a plaited band. The company stocked other hats with feathers as decoration based on Austrian Tyrollean style priced around 50 shillings. I recall the Lino in the square pattern and it being laid in the St Helens branch. It was overlapped where one strip met the other to all for it to stretch and eventually I had to cut off the overlap so it lay flat.
LikeLike
hello my first job upon leaving school was at G.A. Dunn & Co in The Strand, London. Although no longer Dunn & Co the shop is still the and the ‘city leadedlights’ are still visable above the shopfront although they have been reversed?. It was in 1964 The Manager was Mr F.W. Harrison and a proper gent ex RAF and a marvellous mentor for me. looking back it was a good start in life and the Co. looked after their staff and they sold very good quality clothing, Harris Tweed was exceptional.
Happy days.
LikeLike
What a great thread, which I have just found. It has brought back some memories and also confirmed to me that there is a fascinating story to be told about Dunn and Co, Mr Dunn and his sons and the successes and travails of the business. I have always thought it strange that there is so little information available about the company but from what I can establish it seems to me that it ground to an ignominious end. I haven’t lived in Birmingham since 1982 but on my occasional visits I am always amused to see that Moss Bros have moved into the former Dunn’s premises on New St (my old branch) and aim for a very different type of customer than they used to. Maybe that is the secret – move with the times.
I started my Dunns’ career aged 17 in 1972 in New St, Birmingham and stayed there, on and off, until I left in early 1979. I was recruited by Brian Philips, the then manager, and other people in the shop at that time were Brian Jones, Tony Harris, Paul Kelly and my fellow junior Kevin Harrison. The cleaner was a lovely, older lady called Mrs Dunham ( I don’t think I ever knew her first name) who I became very fond of. She used to bring us all in sweets (usually Spangles or toffees) and she would often share her tea-break with me and give me some cake or pie on the understanding that I didn’t tell the others. Tony Harris became my mentor and I learnt a lot from him. We always got on well together and would exchange books and he taught me how to play gin rummy.
I remember the change to computerisation; I think there was an initial abortive attempt before they got it right. I also remember the change to metrication which I think we largely worked around. By that time I could estimate somebody’s measurements in imperial without a tape measure and would just plump for the nearest metric equivalent. Most of our customer base disregarded it – not entirely surprising as some of them were still coming to terms with decimal currency.
In time Brian Philips was replaced by John Degville (a very good manager and somebody I always respected) and then by Mick Smith. Before Mr D left we were joined by a senior assistant from the Corporation St shop, Jack Lumb and working with him and Mick Smith was probably my happiest time in Dunn’s. I used to play darts with Mick (I was hopeless) and doubt I ever beat him. I also remember handing in my notice to Jack (he was acting manager that week) after spending most of the morning plucking up my courage to do it and feeling guilty in case I was letting people down.
Between 1974 and 1975 I left New St and worked in the recently opened shop in Sutton Coldfield. Jeff Garner was the manager and the first time I met him was with the shop in semi-darkness because of lighting restrictions imposed by the three day week – it was lit by Calor Gas lanterns. Another good manager and somebody else I got on well with.
I also did stints in Corporation St (where the legendary Syd Marshall was manager) as well as Dudley and Walsall. I have fond memories of the Cabin with the lads from the Corporation St shop and meeting in a nearby cafe for tea and toast before the shop opened
Looking back some of it seems like looking into a different time, which in many ways it is. I was given a sharp reminder of Dunn’s the other day when I watched a news item about a dress shop reopening after lock down. The shop owner was shown using a Jiffy steamer to freshen up her stock. I would have spent hours and hours jiffying incoming stock; it was a simple but very efficient piece of kit and I’ve often thought I could do with one at home. We would use it to shape and brush- up hats s we;; when the steam kettle wasn’t working. It was probably that clip which prompted my on-line search for Dunn & Co.
Reading this thread, and writing my own bit, I recall that it was always a bit different working for Dunn’s than for other, similar companies. The experiences of other retail workers at the time were different from mine and as I got older I came to appreciate what a very good employer Dunn & Co was. Our pay was a bit better, there was a non-contributory pension scheme, we got generous clothing allowances (who remembers the hat allowance?) and generous bonuses at Christmas and after the January sales. I think there was quite a sense of community about the company. I left to take a job with the Post Office (my part became BT) and I stayed there for 35 years until I took early retirement I took a small pay cut when I joined the PO (soon rectified) and from the outset I had a personal identification number and did feel as if I was a number on a payroll rather than an individual – it was never like that with Dunn’s.
I’ve got lots of memories from all those years ago but I won’t take up any more space on this forum. Suffice to say that if anybody remembers me I would be delighted to hear something back from you. I will be happy to share my personal email address if anybody should want it. I often think back to people that I knew and find myself wondering how their lives have gone, particularly since the very sad closure of Dunn’s.
On a purely personal note – I have never managed to trace my Dunn’s pension despite many attempts so if anybody can point me in the right direction I would be grateful.
Good luck to all my former colleagues. I have enjoyed this little trip down Memory Lane.
Joe Fitzgerald
LikeLiked by 1 person
I receive my pension monthly from The Prudential. With Dunns from 1960 till the demise of old company in 1991
LikeLike
Many thanks Bernard. I will give that a go. If I succeed you will, of course, receive the usual commission.
I enjoyed your post. – all interesting stuff.
I remember Peter Jagger who became manager at Corporation St, Birmingham shortly before I left the company. I had forgotten that his name was Peter. I also remember an area manager called Ward, I can’t recall his first name but I remember him as a big, imposing man. He left the company shortly before I did which was probably because he retired, he was certainly around that age. He lived in Leicester, I think, though why I should remember that is a mystery to me.
Thanks again. Best regards to you.
LikeLike
Hi
Ted Ward who lived at Birstall,Leicester. I went to his retirement dinner at the Britannia in Manchester. Peter Jagger I replaced as manager at the London Rd Liverpool Branch after he stepped down to be an assistant at Ranelagh Street Liverpool. He went on to manage Lord Street Liverpool and then Corporation St.Birmingham.
Regards.
Bernard
LikeLike
Ted Ward was my area director who interviewed me and gave my job on Dunns at Kettering branch back in 1970.Does anyone remember Mr Newman who I believe was staff director Regards David Skelham
LikeLike
I do remember John Newman who was Staff Director when I joined the company in 1960 I do believe that when appointed his rival for that position was Mr W L Wright who was area manager for the area I worked in around Liverpool and Lancashire. In St Helens we always had prior notice of his arrival as the manager of the local hotel would let our branch manager know when he was booked in. No company cars in those days. One of the men who replaced him was Mr Faulkner who was proud to boast of the number of staff he had sacked
LikeLike
Jack Faulkner became our area director after Ted Ward. He was someone to be feared rather than respected. And this type certainly would not survive in todays world. After he retired we had Malcolm Moore, Then for a while it was Chris Fruin.Then just a few years and leading up to closure it was Peter Seekings.
LikeLike
Hi David
Yes I have to agree with your comments regarding Jack Faulkner. A strange individual who could make life a misery for you. Not many people would support his methods of people management.
I think I may have already posted the demise of Peter Seekings, along with the passing of his lovely wife Violet. He died about 3/4 years ago at the age of 82.
Mike Bradshaw
LikeLike
My first job from leaving school was at G.A.Dunn & Co Ltd in The Strand, London WC2. The Manager was F.W. Harrison a larger than life character ex RAF and taught me a lot. the under manager was Frank Chorley and the window dresser was ‘billy’ Bowen These were in the days of proper service to the customer. looking back now it was very ‘Dickensian’ I remember a lot of the names mentioned about the senior management of Dunn & Co. The Shop is still there and the city leaded lights are still visible although they have been reversed and of coarse the Dunn & Co has long gone it is still a gents clothes shop.
LikeLike
Hi there. What a fabulous chat. My great-uncle was Mr John William (Jack) Barr who, I have been told he was in very senior management up at Dunn & Co & probably London based. He died in 1962 – aged only 55 – so we are going back quite a while!. I have quite a few photos, which I think show various ‘Corporate’ meals out of that time. I’d be delighted if anyone remembers Mr Barr or knows anything more about him e.g. his role, or branch or any personal stuff. I am happy to share some pictures if there is a way to upload. Does anyone know where the Dunn & Co archives are? They must exist somewhere. Thank you so much. Emma x
LikeLike
Hello there,
I’m a Dunn x. My great grandfather was Alfred John Dunn, FRCS Architect and his father was Alexander Dunn, Architect. Very well know for lots of buildings around Birmingham. Including Lyons Tea Rooms. I think that George Arthur may be related. There was a Dunn & Co in Gloucester. Next door to the buildings that my grandfather built he probably built their building as well. Alfred studied in Bournville. Family had links with Maxstoke Cheltenham. They married into the Loud family and owned 50 houses in Selly Oak and Northfield plus shops etc.
Very interested in finding out xx
Claire Julian nee Dunn
LikeLike
How interesting! Thank you!
Kathryn
LikeLike
My dad was a worker at the Hanley store in stoke on trent. His name was Tony Adams, He worked there from the late 50s until the 90s. He sadly passed away in 2009. I have some photos of him there with hats on etc. I now own his old Dunns garments, the quality is still incredible. I also have alot of letters he kept from customers thanking him for his service, he was one hell of a salesman!
LikeLike
Reply to David Skelham and Mike Bradshaw. So disappointed to read your comments regarding my
dad Jack Faulkner! He started working for the company at the age of 18yrs and worked his way to
the title of Sales Director and I have many letters of praise for his contribution over the years, his
energy and enthusiasm in raising the standards of the Company. I knew all the directors and managers, and have such fond memories of Mr. Newman, Mr. Hale, Mr. Pedrick, and names too numerous to
mention…My dad as you describe him, was not a “strange individual “, he was good at his job, astute, dignified, very well dressed (thanks to Dunn’s), and obviously a thorn in your side as he reached Directorship and you didn’t!! You have spoilt what would have been a lovely trip down memory lane for me by a couple of jealous digs…..my dad died 21 years ago at the age of 85yrs, and as Mr. Hale has
written, “A privilege to have known and worked with him”
LikeLike
I knew your father, Jack Faulkner, Jennifer as I originally worked in the Display Department (John Slack, Henry Cunningham, Eric Marshall) above the toy shop up the road, before becoming Shopfitting Manager in the Estates Department (Mr Neville, Les Fretton, Tom Arnold) situated in the main HQ in Royal College Street.
All the Chairnan names are familiar and I always found your father to be most amenable and affable. He certainly wasn’t the strangest Area Director – not by a long chalk!
Coincidentally, a conversation with my long-time dentist revealed that dad was also a patient of Dr Ian Addleson.
The reason if, on a shop visit, your father would step into a back room, rather than serve customers of a certain Eastern persuasion, was also known and a perfectly reasonable reaction, given his previous horrendous experiences.
I hope this has served to redress the balance a little, Jennifer. We didn’t and don’t all harbour the same negative impressions of your father.
Ade Macrow
LikeLike
Thank you Ade for your very kind response to my comment regarding my father Jack Faulkner,
It is much appreciated,
Jenny Page
LikeLike
My grandfather, who died in 1968, was the independent architect who designed the Dunn shopfronts from, to quote from my grandfather’s autobiography “a faint idea of the form it should take from Mr G. A. Dunn”. I have a list of the Dunn shops he was involved with, personal and professional recollections of working with Dunns from that autobiography, a list of original drawings in a collection and photographs of two of the shops. There’s far too much information to include here so is there a way I can contact you about this?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t compete with some of the Dunn reminiscences here, but I fondly remember working at the Camden Town head office as a Saturday and holiday job from 1966 to 1970. Mr Armstrong was the general manager and Mr Pedrick the MD. I worked in various departments but the one I remember best is Suits, with the sizes described as Regular, Long, Short, Portly, Stout, Short Portly and Short Stout. The last four were collectively known as “the comics”.
Even as part-timers we were entitled to buy a suit for three guineas and a tweed jacket for 30 shillings each year. I continued to buy clothes at the Enfield and North Finchley branches until they closed down – always excellent quality.
LikeLike
Wonderful to read these stories of a great company sadly now gone forever.
I joined Burnley branch in June 1963 at the tender age of 15 for a princely ninety shillings a week plus commission, hat allowance and staff discount. Branches had numbers with a prefix of “T” in London for Town, or “C“in the rest of the UK for Country. Burnley branch was C29 and was managed by Ernest Brown a distinguished ex-military man who travelled in each day from Blackburn.
The regional manager was Mr W L Wright from Southport who would visit a couple of times a year, one visit being for a stocktake where everything, even the coat hangers, were counted. Each week stock sheets showing every single item by stock name and size were sent to Head Office, this enabled them to request us to transfer stock to other branches who had customers waiting.
I remember that old copper hat steamer bubbling away all day for us to restore customers old hats steam shaping and brushing free of charge, all part of the great service from GA Dunn & Co.
The key advertising slogan of the time was “Dunnsmanship – the art of dressing better for less” which had replaced the much-remembered post wartime “If you want to get ahead – get a hat”
Mr Brown would find a quiet moment each week to educate the staff on Salesmanship from an educational manual provided by head office.
Each Thursday our delivery would arrive in a magnificent coach painted brown Dunn and Co truck with an immaculately dressed truck driver who looked more like a chauffeur than a truck driver.
I learned so much from my time at C29 and believe the experience was key to my career development.
What a great shame that Dunn and Co could not find a way to attract the next generation of clothes conscious customers especially as their fathers and grandfathers had been so loyal to this great company, or perhaps it was that loyalty that was part of the problem as young men of the sixties and seventies were desperate to be “different” from their fathers.
LikeLike
Lovely memories, thank you.
LikeLike
Pingback: High Pavement pt 4 – up to Lee Bridge – Long & Lazy Lewisham
I have recently been gifted a top hat with Dunn’s stamp inside. It’s not in great condition, but not bad considering that it must be quite old. It has three initials stuck into the crown, in a semi-circular pattern above the Dunn logo. I surmised that they would be the initials of the original owner, and am pleased to see from this article etc. that I was correct, thanks for that.
Does anyone now if any of Dunns sales records have survived, as I’d be interested to know who H L B might have been?
Thanks for a fascinating read, by the way. Most enjoyable!
Edward Jennings of Windy Nook on Tyneside.
LikeLike
Does anyone have any information about the Dunns shop in Muswell Hill? I remember this being around in the middle 1940’s
LikeLike
Hi all, just found this site and it rekindled many memories and I recall some of the names. I worked in Birmingham, Corporation st and New st along with visits to Solihull (Mr Marsh), Dudley and Wolverhampton. When I first started there was a list of branches and each name was preceded by a “C” or a “P”, city or provincial! I will try and remember some of the names, (and stories), they were generally top notch people
LikeLike
I remember it as T for town (i.e. London) and C for country (provinces), in the 1960s. My local branch was T72, North Finchley. I got to know all the codes but have forgotten most of them now!
LikeLike
The branches were numbered with the prefixes T and C. Town ( around London ) and C Country ( elsewhere). Branch I started in C26 St Helens.
LikeLike
Ah, my memory may not be as good as yours. Can you remember the sequence of, 2,5,3,6,7,8,4,9 and it’s relevance? That one is burnt in deeply.
LikeLike
Sorry, no. What was it for?
I wasn’t in a branch – I had a Saturday and holiday job at Head Office in Camden Town.
LikeLike
These single digit numbers refer to hat sizes. If I remember correctly 2 was for 6 1/2 rising to 9 for 7 1/2. 6 was for the most popular size 6 7/8.
LikeLike