The Whiteley – The Estate HISTORY The dramatic history ofThe Whiteley is one of indefatigable ambition. Conceived by its namesake William Whiteley some 130 years ago as London’s first department store, the once global emporium of the senses has long-served as testament to the British entrepreneurial spirit.
1867 THE UNIVERSAL PROVIDER The Whiteleys customer base had grown steadily since its inception, and by 1867 occupied a row of shops along Westbourne Grove, comprising 17 separate departments. William Whiteley boldly claimed he could provide anything from a pin to an elephant (a claim that was put to the test by a doubting clergyman, who on 4pm on the day of his order received a very large delivery at his stables).
1851 THE VISIONARY
A youngYorkshire man, 20 years of age, visited The Great Exhibition in Hyde Park and was inspired to create the most lavish department store the world had ever seen. He returned to London 4 years later with just £10 in his pocket, determined to make hisvision a reality.
1872 AN IMMENSE SYMPO
1863 THE BIRTH OF WHITELEYS Whiteleys began its existence in the form of a small drapery shop, which was situated at 31 Westbourne Grove.
By 1868, the store had expa offer dressmaking, and its firs outside drapery followed sho with the addition of a house a refreshment room in 1872.T would soon be described as “a symposium of the arts and ind the nation and of the wo
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