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Weatherhead Walters & Son a modest Ironmongers started trading in 1734 on the aptly named Irongate in Derby. The company soon began to grow expanding into agricultural goods and gaining the titles of Gun & Silver Smiths, and Oil & Colour Merchants.
George Bennett, a retired Master Mariner, bought the company in 1864. He expanded the company even further with sports equipment alongside farming tools, toys and guns s well as homewares for country houses! Being an “old sea dog” George had the store laid out like a sailing ship. Wrought iron stairways climb up to nautical-style landings throughout, examples of which can still be seen today as the store retains a ship-like quality.
Bennett passed the company down through his family. He had five daughters and four sons, but only one grandson, who was killed in the First World War. The last remaining Bennett sold the company in 1937 to local property and building company Ford and Weston when it became Bennetts Irongate Limited, but continued to thrive as an independent business.
In 1984 Bennetts was purchased by Blair White (it’s then Managing Director) under a management buyout. Mr White set about expanding the company further with great success. Tragically he was killed in a traffic accident in 1991 leaving his wife Susan to continue running the business. Mrs White continued with the work her husband had started, adding further departments and opening up the original theatre part of the building introducing a successful bistro. Bennetts continued to thrive under the White family ownership as they expanded the business, setting up a successful Bennetts store in Ashbourne as well as opening a further smaller satellite store.
In 2019, following difficult trading conditions that had affected many department stores across the UK, Bennetts was rescued by local businessman Paul Hurst. Mr Hurst had already brought new life to one of England’s oldest coaching inns, The Old Bell Hotel, following a £2 million restoration.
Bennetts challenges were further compounded by the high maintenance costs associated with a very old and fragile building that the business did not own, despite having offered to purchase it on several occasions during the White family ownership and again by Mr Hurst. Following advice from surveyors, it was concluded that the business would be unable to continue trading from that site.
To secure Bennetts future, significant investment was made into its online presence and warehouse facilities. Today, Bennetts has grown into a national brand, shipping across the UK. The business has also expanded through acquisitions, including the recent addition of lifestyle brand Sand Cornwall.
It is hoped that, as the High Street continues to evolve and improve, Bennetts will one day return to Derby’s Cathedral Quarter with a more focused store, fit for the 21st century.
Meanwhile, the extensive Bennetts archive, which spans generations, is being carefully catalogued and digitised to preserve the story of the world’s oldest department store for future generations.
15th July 2025
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