Photograph of Marks & Spencer Ltd., 135-140 High Street, Winchester
Taken about 1935
Marks & Spencer had developed from a market stall in Leeds in 1884 to a public company, its flagship store opening at Marble Arch in London in 1930, five years before this store replaced The Suffolk Arms and Peckham's fruiterers and greengrocers on a prime site in Winchester's High Street. The well stocked shop frontage is a considerable attraction to passers by, while to the right 'Pure Ices, Wafers and Cornets' are advertised on a cart beside J Sainsbury Ltd. Founded in 1869, a branch of Sainsbury's was established in Winchester by 1924.
Both these companies were trail blazers, Sainsbury's successfully expanding during the inter-war years and offering a large product range as well as home delivery, while Marks & Spencer opened café bars for customers and a scientific research laboratory, and offered extensive staff welfare services in the 1930s. Their presence in any high street in this period was an indicator of a town's relative prosperity and status.
The photograph was taken by Winchester photographer F B Heathcote Wride.
