Fondly cherished by the people of Southampton is the legacy of Plummer Roddis, a beloved department store that held a special place in the hearts of many.
1. Opened in 1896
Established back in 1896 as Plummer, Roddis and Tyrrell, Southampton’s oldest department store served the local community for almost a century - through the hard times and the good.
The origins of Plummer Roddis and Tyrrell can be traced back to two companies. William Plummer initially established himself as a draper in the vibrant town of Hastings before expanding his operations to Southampton’s bustling Above Bar Street.
Meanwhile, George Roddis had already made a name for himself in business in Harborough and as a partner in a drapery in Hastings.
Bournemouth Draper Reginald Tyrrell joined the pair in their venture before parting ways in 1898 to concentrate on his other business Tyrrell & Green.
2. Store was renamed from Plummer Roddis and Tyrrell
The Above Bar store store was renamed Plummer Roddis in the early 20th century
The company became part of the Drapery Trust in 1928, which was under the ownership of Debenhams.
A decision was made in the early 1970s to rebrand the stores as Debenhams, with the exception of Southampton where Edwin Jones adopted the national name instead.
3. A victim of the Blitz
Standing proudly at the intersection of Commercial Road and Above Bar, the initial building was a remarkable and commanding presence. Unfortunately, it fell victim to the devastating bombings by the Luftwaffe in 1940.
The once ornate building with marble floors and soaring columns was reduced to nothing but a pile of rubble.
4. They used temporary buildings
The shop was forced to use scattered premises in various parts of the town, together with a temporary property on the Junction site.
It took until spring 1962 when plans were finally confirmed and work could begin on a new store. In March of that year, construction began and the Daily Echo welcomed the development.
“By early 1965 Southampton will have its most modern store, a worthy addition to those which have risen Phoenix-like from the ashes of wartime devastation,’ read the article.
With its clean, modern lines, the shop could boast of moving escalators, four sales floors, several “transatlantic ideas’’ incorporated in its design and even a gardening department.
5. The first new building opened in 1963
When peace returned the shop reopened in temporary buildings until finally a new store, the one that most of us are familiar with, became a reality in 1963 – and boasted that the premises even had an escalator.
When it was opened, the new Plummers, as it was often affectionately abbreviated to, was described in Echo reports of the time as “Yet another magnificent new addition to Southampton’s main shopping area.”
After cutting the ribbon to officially open the store, the mayor, Elsie Williams, told a large crowd that had gathered outside: “May there never be another war to demolish this building.”
She thanked Plummer Roddis for providing “such a fine store” and added: “May the women of Southampton spend many happy hours in the store and may it also add to the visitors of Southampton.”
6. It had a popular dining area
Upon entering the recently opened establishment, visitors were met with separate departments tailored for television, radio, and electrical devices, along with a new dining area.
Situated in a chic and upscale location, this high-end dining establishment offered views of the city centre and waterfront.
7. It was all about the latest fashions
Guests were treated to live fashion presentations featuring the latest apparel collections, with models demonstrating how they could be worn.
Additionally, a top-notch hair salon was manned by talented stylists and nail technicians on the premises, ready to create fabulous looks for patrons.
8. One of the biggest Plummer Roddis’
Standing tall with four expansive sales levels, encompassing a vast floor space measuring 90,000 square feet, this store stood out as the largest and most contemporary among the 16 branches of Plummer Roddis in the Southern and Western regions.
During the peak of its business operations in the late 1930s, the company had strategically placed shops spanning from Folkestone to Weymouth along the south coast.
9. New opening got a lot of publicity
In February 1947 the Daily Echo carried a story that Plummer’s had opened a “commodious and comfortable’’ restaurant, while a few months later many hundreds of women attended the official opening of a new fashion department.
Alderman Frederick Smith, the Mayor of Southampton, said at the time: “Looking back to the days of the Blitz in 1940 the town’s main shopping centre was reduced to ruins, a picture which will never be erased from my mind.
“Now we must have another picture, this time of a fine shopping centre, better in every respect than the old one, with wider streets and facilities for enterprising firms.’’
10. The beginning of the end was in 1979
Whispers of Plummers shutting down started circulating back in 1979, yet the store persevered against these concerns.
However, the beginning of the end was truly in sight when the lease on the Southampton building ran out in 1987.
11. It closed in 1992
Following that, Plummers managed to stay afloat through borrowed time until its closure in December of 1992, when the building was transformed into a second home for what was Southampton Institute of Higher Education, now Southampton Solent University.
The building was renamed the James Matthews Building.
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