Person    | Male  Born 13/10/1848  Died 27/3/1910

Owen Owen

Categories: Commerce

Countries: Wales

Founder of a chain of department stores.

Born Wales to a farming family. 1860 apprenticed to an uncle at a drapers shop in Bath. 1868 opened his own drapers in Liverpool. Very successful and by 1873 had 120 staff, who he treated unusually well, for the time. 1891 married and came to London but continued to manage the Liverpool store which became one of the largest stores in the north of England. He invested widely, in other stores, railways, etc. He supported many Welsh organisations. Died in London.

The business expanded and by 1979 operated more than 20 department stores. The company effectively remained under family control until 1985 but folded in 2007.

The painting, by Hubert von Herkomer, shows Owen in 1868. Photo credit: University of Liverpool.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Owen Owen

Commemorated ati

Other Subjects

Sir John MacDougall

Sir John MacDougall

Administrator and businessman. He held several positions on the former London County Council, including Chairman from 1902 - 1903. In most sources his name is spelt as McDougall. He was one of the ...

Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration

2 memorials
Frank Bethell

Frank Bethell

Worked for the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society. Was Architect and Surveyor for the the Bostall Estate construction 1900.

Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Tyburn Turnpike House

Tyburn Turnpike House

This toll gate is thought to have stood about where Marble Arch now stands.

Building, Commerce, Property, Transport

1 memorial
Laurence Corner Army Surplus

Laurence Corner Army Surplus

Closed when the owner, Victor Jamilly, died January 2007, aged 79.  The staff moved on and opened Squadron HQ in 121 Kentish Town Road.  Some sources give the opening date as 1947, but possibly tha...

Place, Armed Forces, Commerce

1 memorial
John Dickinson

John Dickinson

Worked for the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society. Was on the building committee for the Abbey Wood branch in 1912.

Person, Commerce, Politics & Administration

1 memorial