Catalogue description RECORDS OF EDWARD BATES LIMITED., DEPARTMENT STORE, HIGH STREET, CHATHAM AND OF BLAKE AND SON, LADIES OUTFITTERS, HIGH STREET, MAIDSTONE

The records deposited reflect the daily business life of a department store. Memorandum and reports on future buying trends are present as are reports on expansion plans and marketing strategies. Financial ledgers detailing takings, stock levels, staff wages and yearly accounts also feature in the deposit. Photographs of staff, company premises and goods sold by the business are prominent in the collection, as are sale and advertising catalogues, brochure and leaflets, miscellaneous items include log books of the firewatchers and circulars and training aids on V.A.T. and decimalisation, which were introduced in the 1970s. To place Bates against a national retailing background, documents of the Associated department Stores and the Retail Distributors Association are also included.

Records of Blake and Son were deposited with the Archives Office in February 1978 also with the reference number U2132.

Blake and Son was established in 1865 in the High Street, Maidstone. It was a prestigious department store with accommodation above which, at various times in the store's history, housed sales staff or the owner's family. Although the store was closed in 1978, its ornate facade was preserved and various items from the interior (which included a pulley-system for transporting bills and receipts from the cashers) were given to Maidstone Museum.

In the 1920's the store was taken over by W.F.C. Miles and remained in his family until 1969. Mr. R.P.G. Howes married Miss Marjorie Miles in October 1946 and took an active part in the running of the firm, and R.F. Frazer also had an interest in the firm at that time.

Although there are fairly complete financial records existing for the period after World War 2, there is nothing in the collection from before 1907, and corporate records only relate to 1947 and 1948.

Fortunately Miss Megan Agate, who worked at the store from the age of 14 until the store's closure (by which time she was the Lingerie, Corsetry and Separates Buyer), very kindly visited the Records Office and supplied the above information.

Note: All the material deposited is from Edward Bates Ltd unless otherwise indicated

The following records are retained by Bentalls head office in Kingston-upon-Thames

Edward Bates Limited - Directors meetings, minutes books (1953-1978), Articles of Association and miscellaneous documents; Blake and Sons Ltd - Directors Meetings minute books (1969-1978), Articles of Association, share register (1929), Minute book (1929-1978) and miscellaneous documents.

Further details can be obtained from Mr. Edward Bates, College Green, The Precinct, Rochester, Kent ME1 1SR.

Edward Bates Limited, Chatham, department store

Blake and Son, Maidstone, Ladies outfitters

Edward Bates Limited, deposited 12 August 1986. Blake and Son, deposited 3 February 1978

The first Edward Bates began business with a drapers shop in Chatham in 1869. The shop was run in a partnership with a Mr. Pain. Mr. Bates was only 18 at the time and had originally started his business life selling stock from the wreck of the 'Hisperia' situated off Gravesend. The partnership with Mr. Pain was dissolved in 1871 and by 1877 Bates owned four shops in Chatham High Street. Edward Bates died in 1896 aged 45 and his son Edward found himself the owner of the business at the age of 24. In 1900 the shops were put under one roof at 94-96 High Street, Chatham on the site of the former Manor House. Edward Bates II became a co-founder of the Chatham Tradesmans' Association (now the Medway Chamber of Commerce) and continued his fathers work in campaigning for a weekly half day holiday and shorter working days for employees.

The firm became a Limited Company in September 1921 and Edward Bates III, son of Edward Bates II, joined the company in 1922, becoming director in 1925. Edward Bates III served as Managing Director for over 40 years and became company chairman in 1966. He guided the company through the difficult period of the second world war and the resulting rationing of clothes. He also organised a team of fire watchers from amongst the staff to guard shops in Chatham High Street.

The business moved to new premises at Watts Place, 125 High Street, Chatham in September 1963, and in February 1966 Edward F. Bates IV (who joined the firm in 1951) succeeded his father as Managing Director. The Company became a member of the Associated Department Stores group in 1966. Blake and Son a ladies outfitters in Maidstone High Street was purchased by Bates in 1969 but it ceased trading in January 1978. Bates itself was sold to Bentalls in 1979.

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