Dublin Department Stores
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Hi everyone
I’m trying to do some research on the history of Department Stores in 19thC Dublin. In particular, I’m interested in Cannock, White (which became Arnotts’), McSwiney, Delaney (which became Clery’s), Todd, Burns and Pim Brothers, along with Switzers and Brown Thomas, of course.
I’d be grateful for any advice on the history of these stores, but what I’d really like is to see some good drawings/photographs of them. Some are easier to find images of than others, but what I never seem to find are images of their interiors.
I don’t come from an architecture background, so I hoped that perhaps some of the people on this site might have some good ideas? Any advice would be appreciated!
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There’s an antiques and lighting store on the left side of capel st as you face north, very elegant georgian/victirian(?) interior, about 3 stories high of shop, original interior. I’ve been told it was a department store and queen victoria bought delph there when she made her state visit! I’m sure the current occupants can tell you more.
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There is at least one printed history of Clery’s / Guiney around which should be easy to find as it was relatively recent. It might be called “In the heart of the city” but the Central Library should be able to find it for you. That has a few interior views but very small images. IIRC there is also a book / brochure about Brown Thomas from the 1950’s / 1960’s, probably issued by the company and, of course, dealing with their former premises in Grafton Street, now the site of M&S and twice rebuilt / remodelled since. It has been, gosh, nearly forty years since I saw that but I do not recall any photos.
Again if I recall correctly, the Irish Builder / Dublin Builder had articles on Pims and Switzers (now BT) around the time they were originally built / or rebuilt but other than exterior drawings in the article, no interior views. See also the thread here re Arnotts, active a year or so back.
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Yip – Peter Pearson also gives a good overview of most of the stores in The Heart of Dublin, which is widely available.
For detail though you’ll need dc3’s sources above, of which the story of Clerys is available at these libraries:
(which I didn’t think was that easy to get hold of – must look it up, thanks dc3 :))
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Thanks for that everyone. I’m very intrigued by the shop on Capel Street, as I didn’t know of a large store there (though I did know that Queen Victoria went on a major shopping spree when she visited here in 1853).
I have the book ‘The Very Heart of the City’, and it’s very useful but of course only covers McSwiney, Delaney/Clerys. The really difficult ones to track down images for are what were Todd, Burns and also Pims, presumably because they went out of business some time ago.
I had planned to spend some time looking at the Dublin and Irish Builder, and definitely will now that you advise it. In the meantime, if anyone trips over a drawing of Pims (from any period), I’d love to hear from you!
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Do you mean Omans Bago?
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Contact the Dublin City Archives in Pearse Street library. If they don’t have info for you, they will know where to try.
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@StephenC wrote:
Do you mean Omans Bago?
Don’t know the name, current owners don’t have a name up i think. It’s about 3/4 way up the street towards the bolton st end. Pastel pink and creamy white exterior on ground level, lots of art noveau esque lamps and buddha statues inside the windows. There’s a book in ilac library on the history of all the buildings on Capel streeet, think it’s in or near the architecture section.
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