Bentalls Ltd
Other Business Names:
- Bentall, Frank
- Bentall, Leonard H
- Fenwick Group
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
-
Distribution - retailing
Department store retailing
-
Distribution - retailing
Mail order & catalogue retailing
-
Transport services
Warehousing & storage services
Notes:
Traced origins to 1867 when Frank Bentall, 1843-1923, opened as a drapery shop at Kingston which he subsequently developed into a department store by 1904. Frank retired in 1909 when succeeded by his son, Leonard Bentall. Incorporated 1925. Rebuilt Kingston site into a major store early 1930s and for many years largest department store outside London. Briefly in mail order and longer term in furniture warehousing. Public company 1946 but controlled by Bentall family. From 1947 acquired other department stores, building into a small group located mostly in south east England. Acquired by Fenwick Group in 2001 [2023]
Publications:
- 'Bentalls Ltd' in J W Ferry, History of the Department Store by Ferry, John W
- Merchant Adventurer; being the biography of Leonard Hugh Bentall, Kingston upon Thames by Herbert, Charles
- My American Tour by Bentall, Rowan
- My Store of Memories by Bentall, Rowan
- Rise of Bentalls. Over eighty years progress, 1867-1951 by Perkins, Herbert H
- The fashionable city and the suburb. How Bentalls of Kingston upon Thames helped rebuild cultures of fashionable consumption in London after the Second World War by Bethan, Bide
- The Men Who Made Kingston. A history of Bentalls of Kingston, 1867-1995 by Firth, Peter E
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Bentall, Frank
- Bentall, Leonard H
- Fenwick Group
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
- Distribution - retailing Department store retailing
- Distribution - retailing Mail order & catalogue retailing
- Transport services Warehousing & storage services
Notes:
Traced origins to 1867 when Frank Bentall, 1843-1923, opened as a drapery shop at Kingston which he subsequently developed into a department store by 1904. Frank retired in 1909 when succeeded by his son, Leonard Bentall. Incorporated 1925. Rebuilt Kingston site into a major store early 1930s and for many years largest department store outside London. Briefly in mail order and longer term in furniture warehousing. Public company 1946 but controlled by Bentall family. From 1947 acquired other department stores, building into a small group located mostly in south east England. Acquired by Fenwick Group in 2001 [2023]Publications:
- 'Bentalls Ltd' in J W Ferry, History of the Department Store by Ferry, John W
- Merchant Adventurer; being the biography of Leonard Hugh Bentall, Kingston upon Thames by Herbert, Charles
- My American Tour by Bentall, Rowan
- My Store of Memories by Bentall, Rowan
- Rise of Bentalls. Over eighty years progress, 1867-1951 by Perkins, Herbert H
- The fashionable city and the suburb. How Bentalls of Kingston upon Thames helped rebuild cultures of fashionable consumption in London after the Second World War by Bethan, Bide
- The Men Who Made Kingston. A history of Bentalls of Kingston, 1867-1995 by Firth, Peter E