Michael Marks, a Russian born Polish refugee, opened his first penny bazaar in a covered arcade in Leeds in 1884. His slogan was ‘Don’t ask the price, it’s a penny’ and after successful trading, went into partnership ten years later with Tom Spencer, creating the beginnings of the company we know today.
To celebrate the company’s 100th birthday in 1984, Marks & Spencer collected together many historical artefacts to create the company archive. This archive now contains more than 70,000 items from 1884 to the present day and is now located on the Leeds University campus in the Michael Marks building, approximately 20 minutes walk from Leeds railway station. Further details can be found on the Marks in Time website.
The archive is open Monday to Friday from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and admission is free so recently I went along with a friend to take a look in their ‘Marks in Time’ galleries. It’s located in a state of the art building on the edge of the campus and stepping through the doors we could see store signs demonstrating how they had changed over the years, it’s so easy to forget how they differed from those of today.
The collection includes many items that were familiar to us and probably to most families in the United Kingdom. The displays comprise clothing, toys, advertising materials, in-house newspapers and company papers. It was interesting viewing the items on display bringing back some fond memories. There were some vivid brown and orange table mats which I remember my grandmother owning, probably the height of fashion then but I don’t think many people would want them on their dining tables now!
Other items taking our interest were staff uniforms, it’s easy to forget how the staff used to dress. We recognised some of the uniforms on display but of the ones above, only the belted uniform on the right was familiar to me.
The archive contains an interesting timeline of key events in the company’s history. From this we learnt some interesting facts such as Marks & Spencer becoming a public company in 1926 and of their flagship London store at Marble Arch opening in 1930, with food halls being introduced the following year. The retailer opened its first overseas stores in 1975 with initial branches in France and Belgium.
Having learnt lots about the bastion of U.K. high streets we left the archive to follow the heritage trail through Leeds city centre. This took us to the Cross Arcade where Marks & Spencer’s first shop was originally located and then along to the Kirkgate Market. This was the site of Michael Mark’s first stall way back in 1884, the small beginnings from which M&S evolved. To celebrate the company’s historical links to Leeds, a heritage stall opened in 2013 near to where the original Penny Bazaar operated from. Despite its small size, this stall has a wide range of tinned biscuits, chocolates, mugs and other items in heritage style tins and packaging to take home as souvenirs of the visit. Tucked in one corner is a small coffee bar serving own brand teas and coffees.
Next to the market stall hanging proudly is the Marks & Spencer centenary clock, marking 100 years of trading as a company from 1884 to 1984. Both the clock and the market stall are in the company’s corporate shade of green.
Following our nostalgic look at the history of Marks and Spencer it seemed only appropriate that we should head to their large, modern store in the nearby Trinity Leeds Shopping Centre for a dose of retail therapy and some groceries from their food hall.
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In the 1970s we had 2 M & S outlets in Edmonton. Unfortunately, they did not make a go of it and closed sometime in the 80s. Still miss them. When we were in London last year, we found their food stores a great place to shop for breakfast,
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It’s such a shame you don’t have M & S any longer. We have a foodhall in our small town and I’m always popping in!
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Yours must be the most expensive blog I follow because almost everywhere you write of I want to visit! Brilliant post on M & S – I must pay a visit…
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Thank you so much for your inspiring thoughts on my blog, it was very cheery to read on such a bitterly cold day! Hope you manage to get to the M&S museum in Leeds before too long.
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It’s on my list of places to visit as soon as Spring forces its way in!
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That’s so interesting. One of my ’50 things to do before I turn 50′ is to explore 10 UK cities as I feel as if there are parts of mainland Europe that I know much more than my own country and it’s only the last year when I’ve started just getting out there. I’ve visited 5 cities so far and from reading your blog, Leeds now gets added to my list!
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That’s great to read Sarah, there is much to be enjoyed in our town’s and cities and I’m certain you will enjoy a visit to Leeds.
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Marks and Spencer is a definite stop over. I found the quality of their products superb!
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It’s very interesting to visit the M&S archive and learn about the company’s heritage.
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Thank you so much for this special piece of history. It is about time I get myself back on a trip up north. beautiful pictures.
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Thanks again for your much appreciated thoughts on my M&S heritage post, it’s so nice to hear from you.
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love bits of history like this. Thanks!
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Thank you Mikes girlie taking an interest in this post. Your comments are much appreciated.
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Good stuff, a place for me to visit when next I am in the UK.
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Thank you for taking an interest in this post. It’s a fun place to visit if you are in the Leeds area.
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This is so cool! Love it =)
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Thank you! So pleased to read you enjoyed this post.
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It was an interesting read =)
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What a fascinating insight to such an icon of the High Street; great post and lovely photos too!
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Thanks Andrew for your kind words. It’s so good to read that you have enjoyed this post on the history of M&S.
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very interesting
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Thanks Tanja – It was indeed very interesting to learn something about the history of M&S.
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This was an interesting post! Wasn’t aware of the history behind the brand of Marks and Spencers, which has so many retail outlets in India as well!
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Thank you for your much appreciated thoughts. It’s great to read you found this post on M&S of interest and to read their are many branches across India.
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You really visit some great places Marion – it was great to read the history of M&S…thanks so much.
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It was such an interesting archive Sue bringing back lots of fond memories for everyone. It’s certainly worth a visit for anyone who happens to be in the area!
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How interesting! Never thought our regular fashion destination M&S has such a beautifully curated history.
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Thank you for taking an interest in this post on M&S. it’s so nice to receive your feedback.
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This was an important trivia…here in my country M&S came around 10 years back and I love their clothing line… knowing their history was great… thanks for all the information.
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It’s my leisure Balaka, it’s so nice to read you are also interested in the M&S heritage.
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This like a really awesome place to go!
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Thank you, I agree that it was very interesting to learn about the heritage of an iconic British retailer.
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I’m old enough to smile at the familiarity of much of it. 🙂 🙂 I love the old market.
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I’m so pleased this post on M&S brought a smile to your face Jo. The old market is lovely and it’s good to see that it is still thriving.
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Thanks for sharing. I don’t remember if I went into this store when I was in London all those years ago. I remember passing by Harrods though.
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I think you may have come across M&S as there are branches everywhere but I’m glad that you visited Harrods – that is a memorable experience.
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Wow what a story and great pictures, thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thank you JYS for your kind words. It’s great to read that you have enjoyed this post.
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I must visit next time I am in UK – M&S fan, great post.
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Thank you Sandra for your kind words. I do hope you get an opportunity to visit here next time you are in Yorkshire.
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Yes, there are boutiques of Marks & Spencer in St. Petersburg too. Excellent brand! Thenk you!
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Thank you for your kind words and to learn that M&S has branches in St.Petersburg.
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Very interesting! Need to visit this museum, didn’t know it existed! M&S is such an well known British brand I have been wondering for years what happened to the clothing label ‘St. Michael’ – underwear has not been the same quality since it ceased to have that label….in my opinion!
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Yes, it’s a long time since they dropped the St. Michael label. The archive s a great place to visit and is completely free.
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It was really interesting reading this article about Leed’s herritage. Seemed like you had lots of fun when you visited that place in the UK. 🙂
Hope all is well!
Regards,
Matej
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Thanks Matej for your kind words. We had a great time along the Leeds Heritage Trail.
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So interesting. When we lived in Singapore my wife would buy most of her clothing and personal items from Marks and Spenser. She loved their products.
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Thanks Ian, I’m so pleased this post on M&S brought back some fond memories of your time in Singapore.
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Thanks for posting this! I love this store and am so fortunate there’s one in the next block! 😄 Thanks for dropping by!
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Thank you for your much appreciated thoughts on my M£S post. It’s good to read that you enjoy visiting this iconic British store.
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Reblogged this on Blogging about all things.
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This is a really interesting post! I think Marks and Spencer’s is such a British icon, I always go the cafe with my mum!
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Thanks Liv, the store is definitely an icon on the British high street.
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We used to have Marks & Spencer’s in Canada. Miss it.
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I’m surprised to read that you don’t have it any longer. Can you remember when it ceased operating there? Thank you for taking an interest in this post and for your kind words.
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It’s been some time, maybe over 20 years. My mom worked there, and as my dad and my ex were British, we shopped there a lot.
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