Founded in 1778 as a high-end draper, the retail chain prospered for more than two centuries
Founded in 1778, Debenhams was one of the largest and most historic department store chains in the world.
The business was formed by William Clark as a single high end drapers store at 44 Wigmore Street in London’s West End. It rose to become one of the biggest retailers in the UK with, at one point, more than 200 large stores across 18 countries and exclusive partnerships with some of the world’s best-known designers including Jasper Conran and Julien Macdonald.