Binns (department store)

Early history

George Binns moved to Sunderland from Yorkshire in 1804, establishing a small drapery business in 1807 before taking over a larger wool and linen drapery store owned by Thomas Ellerby. Binns was assisted by his son Henry in the store at 176 High Street, Bishops Wearmouth, Sunderland. In 1836 Henry inherited the store on the death of his father and began trading under the name Henry Binns. He was a member of the anti-slavery movement and sold only cotton grown by free labour. By 1844 the shop had moved from 176 to 173 High Street.

In 1865 Henry retired and his son Joseph John Binns took control of the business changing its name to H Binns, Son & Co. By 1884 the business had moved again, renting two houses at 38-39 Fawcett Street where the house frontages were replaced with a new shop front and the interior remodelled.

During 1897 the business was incorporated as H Binns, Son & Co Ltd and the buildings at 38-39 Fawcett Street were purchased shortly afterwards. The company was chaired by Joseph Binns and employed 30 staff.

History as a Limited Company

The business grew quickly and within 17 years became Sunderland's biggest department store. It had acquired or leased 32 to 37, 40 and 42 Fawcett Street and was trading on both sides of the street. The capital of the business at the start of the First World War stood at £65,000 (approx. £20m 2013).

In 1922, the company expanded with the purchase of Arthur Sanders Ltd, a drapery business based in High Row Darlington. It was renamed Binns and developed to become a department store. This was followed in 1923 by the purchase of Thomas Jones of Middlesbrough, which was again remodelled and renamed Binns. By 1924 every tram in Sunderland had the advertisement Shop at Binns on its front. In 1925 the Darlington store was destroyed by fire but was swiftly rebuilt and re-opened the following year.

The company continued to expand by acquisition of stores in other towns:

The stores were all remodelled and renamed as Binns. In addition to purchasing companies, further property was purchased from W J Reed in Fawcett Street, Sunderland and new premises were built on Borough Road. In 1934 the company changed its name to simply Binns Ltd., and in 1935 they reported capital of over £1 million and a staff of 5,000.

World War II proved difficult for Binns as a number of stores were damaged in air raids: Dumfries in March 1941, most of the Fawcett Street store a few weeks later and the Middlesbrough store in March 1942. Construction of a replacement store in Sunderland began in November 1949, but it took until 1953 for the store to be re-opened.

In early 1953, House of Fraser made an approach to purchase Binns Ltd, which initially met with opposition from the board of directors, however, after a bitter takeover process in April 1953 Hugh Fraser was appointed Chairman of the company.

House of Fraser

After the takeover, Binns continued to operate as a separate business within the House of Fraser empire. In 1957 the Middlesbrough store was reopened and the Sunderland store was rebuilt and refurbished during 1962 and 1972. Further stores were acquired and added to the Binns group:

During the 1970s, House of Fraser re-organised the group and Binns became a trading division within the House of Fraser group. A new Binns store opened at Scunthorpe in 1974. In 1975 William Henderson & Sons of Liverpool was transferred from the Harrods division to Binns. Further stores were added in Brigg and Lincoln (formerly Mawer & Collingham).

By the 1980s, however, the Sunderland store was struggling and departments were closed. The rest of the business was still trading strongly and the stores in Hull, Darlington and Grimsby were refurbished between 1984 and 1986.

By 1993 the Sunderland was closed and the House of Fraser was reviewing many of its businesses. Binns saw many of its branches closed during the next few years. House of Fraser was acquired by the Highland consortium in 2006 and after the takeover, renamed all but Darlington store as House of Fraser.