It was a sad day for Carlisle when House of Fraser closed its doors for the final time on May 23 and, to mark the occasion, we’re looking back on the department store and what it has meant to the city.
Many will remember it as Binns, the Sunderland-based chain founded by George Binns in 1807, who began a small drapery business before taking over a larger wool and linen drapery store.
The business grew quickly to become Sunderland’s biggest department store, continuing to expand by acquiring stores in other towns including, in 1933, Robinson Brothers in Carlisle and Dumfries.
The stores were all remodelled and renamed Binns.
In 1953, House of Fraser made an approach to purchase Binns Ltd, which initially met with opposition from the board of directors.
After a bitter takeover process, however, Hugh Fraser was appointed chairman of the company.
Following the takeover, Binns continued to operate as a separate business within the House of Fraser empire, but the decline of heavy industry and subsequent challenges in the economy in the 1980s were reflected in its fortunes.
The 1990s heralded a period of review and rationalisation across House of Fraser, and Binns saw many of its branches close, including the Sunderland store, which closed entirely in 1993. House of Fraser was acquired by Highland Group Holdings, a consortium of investors, in 2006.
The Cumberland News reported at the end of February that the long-established Carlisle store was closing down, with the announcement of a sale and an end date given of May.
The closing down sale was announced just weeks after the House of Fraser building was sold for £750,000, ending a retail story that dates back locally to 1906.
As the store closed for the final time, manager Tanya Sessford said: “It is a sad occasion. It is an iconic building that has been a big part of the community and so many people who have shopped here will have a story to tell. The team that have worked here – past and present – have been amazing and they will all have a story to tell too.”
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