Our Heritage When John James Fenwick opened his store as Mantle Maker and Furrier in 1882, he did so with a commitment to luxury, an uncompromising eye for quality and the passion to serve his clients with the very best he had to offer. From the first day JJ Fenwick opened the doors of his shop to today, when we open the doors of nine national department stores, those same values are at the forefront of the Fenwick vision and the Fenwick experience.
John James Fenwick John James Fenwick, known as JJ, was born in Richmond, North Yorkshire, in 1846. Early in his career, he learned his trade as a shop assistant, where his passion for retail and customer service was instilled and nurtured. In 1882, his ambition came to fruition when Fenwick bought and renovated a doctor’s house for £181 and 4 shillings at 5 Northumberland Street in Newcastle upon Tyne. This would become his first store and the start of his legacy: JJ Fenwick, Mantle Maker and Furrier. Together with two assistants, he sold an unparalleled range of mantles, silk goods, dresses, fabrics and trimmings. JJ’s keen eye for luxury and exceptional care of his clientele made the store especially popular, and soon he expanded his space by purchasing 37, 38 and 40 Northumberland Street. Today, the flagship Fenwick store still stands on this exact site, offering the same incomparable service, the finest products and enjoyable in-store experiences as founded by JJ over a century before.
Our Timeline Explore the history of Fenwick from 1846 to today. Discover how JJ Fenwick transformed one shop in Newcastle to nine much-loved department stores nationwide.
A Dress for Dorothea Baird In 1896, actress Dorothea Baird requested JJ to design her dress for her role in the play Trilby. Her grandfather built 37-39 Northumberland Street – the site of the first Fenwick. Fund-Raising at Fenwick Philanthropy has always been a core value at Fenwick. Here, we see Fenwick employees raising money on Red Cross Day in 1953, standing in front of the Newcastle store on Brunswick Place.
Koringa and her Crocodile In the 1920s and 30s, Koringa, a celebrated circus performer in the Cleo Mills Brothers Circus, was a regular at Fenwick Newcastle, often accompanied by her pet crocodile. Fit for a King and Queen In 1937, Fenwick advertised its ability to make Coronation robes for the ascension of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The illustrations show a regal gown and mantle of red and white.
