Catalogue description PHOTOGRAPHS RELATING TO PAULDEN'S DEPARTMENT STORE

Debenhams plc

• Trade

William Paulden started trading in Stretford Road, Manchester in 1860's. He was an innovator and was the first to introduce electric lighting, lifts, escalators, plate glass windows and motorised vehicles (in 1937) to his shop. He also had a moving picture show in the window presumably advertising goods and services. Paulden's had its own 3 piece band.

In 1928 Debenhams took over the shop but continued to trade under the name of Pauldens and was rebuilt in 1930. By 1950 Debenhams had also taken over the nearby Affleck and Brown - the Ardwick Apollo was the warehouse for Affleck and Brown, and staff also lived at these premises.

The hours of work for staff (after 1930's) were Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9 am - 6 pm. Wednesday 9 am - 7 pm. Friday 9 am - 7 pm. Saturday 9 am - 8 pm and the wages at 14 years were 5 shillings a week. At age of 16 this went up to 17.6d plus ½d in the £ commission. At the same time buyers got between £2-£3 a week.

The uniform was navy and yellow or navy and silver and in the afternoons the staff would change into evening dress.

In 1957 Pauldens was completely renovated and the Sunday before it was due to re-open a fire broke out which completely gutted the building - the cause was never identified. Pauldens started trading temporarily in an army barracks in Medlock Street. They transferred some of the staff to Affleck and Brown and many people were employed as debt collectors to recover outstanding payments for credit purchases - Pauldens was the only store to offer credit facilities at the time.

Eventually Pauldens transferred its business to the present Debenhams site in Market Street. The building housed Rylands warehouse, Piccadilly Hotel, Marks and Spencers, and Burtons but eventually it was completely occupied by Debenhams.