Curl Brothers

Curl Brothers was a historic department store in Norwich, Norfolk, whose origins dated to 1860. The business was established by three brothers from the village of East Winch who initially joined the drapery business of Buntings in Norwich. Their association with Buntings was short-lived, and later in the same year they acquired the Rampant Horse Inn. They converted the premises into shops and warehouse space, creating the foundation for an independent drapery and department-store business. The retailer expanded steadily during the late nineteenth century. By 1900, it had absorbed or occupied additional nearby properties, reflecting the way large British department stores often grew through the consolidation of adjoining urban premises. The store became an important part of Norwich's central retail district, particularly around Orford Place and Brigg Street. Its business was based on the broad merchandise model associated with traditional department stores rather than a narrowly focused product category. The available historical material identifies it as a drapery and department-store retailer, but does not provide a complete catalogue of its departments or private-label ranges. Between the First and Second World Wars, Curl Brothers was acquired by Footman, Pretty & Company, an Ipswich department-store business controlled by the Drapery Trust. Under that ownership structure, the Norwich store continued to grow. By 1929, it occupied approximately 51,000 square feet and included a restaurant serving a six-course lunch priced at two shillings and sixpence. Its scale and prominent location made it one of the defining retail establishments in central Norwich. The original store was destroyed during German fire bombing in 1942. The attack also destroyed other nearby businesses, including Buntings and Woolworths, while the RG Pilch sports shop was affected because its building stood in the same block. Curl Brothers temporarily operated from the first floor of Jarrolds, another Norwich department store. It subsequently moved to a smaller Westlegate property made available by Norwich Union for businesses displaced by the bombing. The former site remained vacant for a period and was used as a water tank and car park while the city considered its redevelopment. Reconstruction began in 1953, and the replacement store opened in 1956. The rebuilt premises were substantially larger than the pre-war establishment, providing approximately 97,000 square feet of retail space and entrances on Brigg Street, Orford Place, Red Lion Street and Rampant Horse Street. The rebuilding restored Curl Brothers as a major central-Norwich retailer and represented the post-war regeneration of the surrounding shopping district. Debenhams later operated the Norwich store while retaining the Curl Brothers name. During the 1970s, Debenhams rationalised its portfolio of local and inherited store names, and the Curl Brothers identity was discontinued in favour of the Debenhams brand. The underlying department-store location therefore continued within a national chain even after the local name disappeared. Debenhams itself closed all of its stores in May 2021, marking the end of the later retail continuity associated with the site and the Debenhams operating model. Curl Brothers is consequently a defunct historical retail brand rather than an active independent business.

Curl Brothers originated in Norwich in 1860. Three brothers from East Winch, a village in Norfolk, joined the drapery business operated by Buntings. The partnership did not last, and later that year the brothers purchased the Rampant Horse Inn. They transformed the inn into shops and warehouse premises, establishing the business that became known as Curl Brothers. The retailer expanded through the acquisition or occupation of nearby properties. By 1900, the store had grown beyond its original premises and had become an established part of Norwich's central commercial district. Its business belonged to the traditional drapery and department-store sector, serving customers through a broad range of merchandise rather than a single specialist category. Between the two world wars, Curl Brothers was acquired by Footman, Pretty & Company, an Ipswich department-store business controlled by the Drapery Trust. The store continued to develop under this wider ownership. By 1929, it covered about 51,000 square feet and included a restaurant offering a six-course lunch for two shillings and sixpence. Its premises dominated the area around Orford Place and Brigg Street, giving the retailer a highly visible position in the city. The store suffered a decisive interruption during the Second World War. In 1942, German fire bombing completely destroyed the Curl Brothers building. The same raid destroyed the nearby Buntings and Woolworths stores, while the RG Pilch sports shop was also lost or severely affected because it occupied a building in the same block. Curl Brothers first received temporary accommodation on the first floor of Jarrolds, another Norwich department store. It later moved to a smaller building on Westlegate that Norwich Union made available to businesses displaced by the bombing. The original site was left empty for some time. It became a conspicuous gap in central Norwich and was used temporarily as a water tank and car park. Reconstruction began in 1953. The replacement store was completed and opened in 1956, with approximately 97,000 square feet of retail space. It had entrances from Brigg Street, Orford Place, Red Lion Street and Rampant Horse Street, restoring the retailer to a prominent role in Norwich's post-war shopping centre. Debenhams subsequently operated the store while retaining the Curl Brothers name. In the 1970s, Debenhams rationalised the identities of stores within its chain, and the Curl Brothers name was replaced by the Debenhams brand. This ended the brand's life as a distinct retail identity, although the department-store operation continued under national ownership for a later period. Debenhams closed all its stores in May 2021. No current independent Curl Brothers operation is identified in the available reference material, so the brand is treated as defunct.

• 2021

  Debenhams retail estate closes

  [1]Curl Brothersen.wikipedia.org

  Debenhams closed all of its stores in May, ending the later chain operation associated with the former Curl Brothers store.

• 1970

  Brand identity absorbed into Debenhams

  [1]Curl Brothersen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1970s, Debenhams rationalised its store branding and discontinued the Curl Brothers identity.

• 1956

  New 97,000-square-foot store opens

  [1]Curl Brothersen.wikipedia.org

  The rebuilt store opened with entrances on four central Norwich streets.

• 1953

  Rebuilding begins

  [1]Curl Brothersen.wikipedia.org

  Construction started on a replacement department store at the former central-Norwich site.

• 1942

  Original store destroyed by bombing

  [1]Curl Brothersen.wikipedia.org

  German fire bombing destroyed the original Curl Brothers store during the Second World War.

• 1929

  Large pre-war department store established

  [1]Curl Brothersen.wikipedia.org

  The store had reached approximately 51,000 square feet and included a restaurant.

• 1900

  Expansion into adjoining premises

  [1]Curl Brothersen.wikipedia.org

  The store had expanded by taking on additional nearby properties.

• 1860

  Business established in Norwich

  [1]Curl Brothersen.wikipedia.org

  Three brothers from East Winch entered the Norwich drapery trade and acquired the Rampant Horse Inn, converting it into shops and warehouse space.

A large traditional regional department store serving Norwich and the surrounding Norfolk area, combining drapery and general merchandise with a prominent city-centre retail location and an in-store restaurant.

• Department-store retail · 1860

  Drapery and general merchandise

  Curl Brothers began as a drapery business and developed into a broad department store. The available historical account confirms general department-store merchandise but does not enumerate the full range of departments or branded product lines.

• Hospitality service

  In-store restaurant

  By 1929, the Norwich store included a restaurant. Historical material records that it offered a six-course lunch, demonstrating the service-oriented format of the large interwar department store.

• 1970

  Debenhams standardises store brandingStrategy

  Background

  Debenhams operated the Norwich store after acquiring or incorporating the business into its chain.

  Action taken

  Debenhams rationalised its local store identities and replaced the Curl Brothers name with the Debenhams brand.

  Aftermath

  Curl Brothers ceased to exist as a distinct retail brand, although the store continued operating under Debenhams.

  Source

• 1953

  Rebuild the bomb-damaged Norwich flagshipStrategy

  Background

  The original store had been destroyed in the 1942 bombing of Norwich, leaving the central site vacant and temporarily used as a water tank and car park.

  Action taken

  Construction began on a substantially larger replacement department store at the original site.

  Aftermath

  The rebuilt store opened in 1956 with approximately 97,000 square feet of retail space and multiple street entrances.

  Source

1. 1Curl Brothersen.wikipedia.org