Its funny but I have walked by this building located in the city centre of Leeds, Yorkshire many times before but never realised its history.
The building shown above in the photograph is the Dewhirst building formerly the warehouse on Kirkgate, Leeds that was premises owned by Isaac Dewhirst. Michael Marks used to have business dealings with Dewhirst and asked Isaac if he would become his business partner. Dewhirst turned him down but suggested that his cashier, Thomas Spencer, might be interested. The rest is history, Marks and Spencer recently celebrated its 125th birthday since it was founded right here in Leeds, Yorkshire.
History, whether local or indeed national is all around us. As I discover quite often when I look more closely at a building wondering if it would make a suitable subject for the Leeds daily photo.
As can be seen in the above photograph the Dewhirst building is marked by a blue plaque by Leeds Civic Trust. The blue plaque reads:
"This was the warehouse of Isaac Dewhirst, wholesale haberdasher and manufacturer of hosiery, pinafores, underclothing and aprons. Obtaining supplies here, the Ploish immigrant pedlar, Michael Marks, met Dewhirst's cashier Tom Spencer. In 1894 they formed the most famous partnership in British retailing."
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Impressive! I would love to see some of their early creations, especially the pinafores!
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