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John Barker & Co. Ltd was a well-known British department store established in 1870 by John Barker and James Whitehead. It was located at 91–93 Kensington High Street in London. The store began as a small drapery business and quickly grew into one of London’s largest and most renowned department stores.
By 1892, the company operated over 42 departments offering a wide range of goods and services, including clothing, furniture, groceries, and even building and plumbing services. The store employed more than 1,000 staff and dispatched approximately 2,000 parcels daily.
In 1894, John Barker & Co. was incorporated as a limited company. The business continued to expand, acquiring neighboring properties and businesses, such as Ponting Brothers in 1907, which was maintained as a separate entity.
The store faced various challenges, including a major fire in 1912 that destroyed the eastern section of the main building. Reconstruction began in 1913, and the company continued to grow in the following decades.
In 1957, John Barker & Co. Ltd was acquired by House of Fraser, a leading department store group. Despite the change in ownership, the store continued to operate under the Barkers name until its closure in 2006. Since then, the building has been repurposed, with part of it now housing a Whole Foods Market store.
Throughout its history, John Barker & Co. Ltd played an important role in establishing Kensington High Street as a premier shopping destination in London, offering a diverse range of products and services to its customers.
