Bonds of Norwich

Business reminiscence page

1879: Robert Herne Bond (a farmer's son) bought a small drapery shop at 19 Ber Street. The family (along with his wife Mary Anne) lived over the shop. They eventually had six children: William, Jessie, John, Ida, Eva and Ernest.
1886: Three properties which adjoined the shop were purchased - one of these was the Jubilee Public House. Kelly's Directory gives the business' addresses as 19 & 21 Ber Street and 62 & 64 Bridge Street.
1887: William Bond joined the business. Another son John Bond became an architect, founded J Owen Bond, Architects who were used in designing future property development.
1903: Ernest Charles Bond joined the business this year. He had already worked in the drapery trade for some years.
1914: The Arcade at All Saints Green opened and this meant the business could be seen from two streets full of shoppers.
1924: MR Robert Herne Bond died this year. William and Ernest Bond continued the business.
1930: Due to work put in by Mary Anne Bond, the Millinery department had grown substantially and employed 30 assistants. 20 other people were being employed making the hats the assistants were selling. Prices of hats ranged from 3 shillings eleven pence and nine shillings and eleven pence. This year, the business took over 'The Thatched Cinema'. It was used as a Conference Centre, Ballroom and Restaurant. 300-400 people were sometimes catered for at Functions. All staff had to serve a three year apprenticeship which they had to pay for themselves at first. Policy was changed by Ernest and they were paid 6 shillings per week. Once served they were allowed to become occasional sales assistants depending on how busy the store was. The showroom girls wore long green dresses and black shoes made of satin. Hours were 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday they finished at 8 p.m.
1931: Eric John Sydney Bond joined the business after 5 years in the London Stock Exchange. He had a Degree in Economics and Law.
1936: Ida Bond was made a non-executive Director this year.
1937: Richard, son of Ernest, joined the business.
1939: By this year the business employed over 200 people.
1942: The store was destroyed in the 'Baedeker' raids this year. What was left of the stock was sold from buses and the restaurant continued from a tin shed!
1944: William Bond died this year.
1951: The War destruction meant re-building and this was finally completed this year with the premises reopening. Norwich now had a modern department store on the corner of Ber Street and All Saints Green. The building made a drastic difference to the appearance of the area. Eric Hinde Bond was elected Lord Mayor. The store moved up-market and this decision attracted many more shoppers.
1957: Nicholas Bond, son of Eric Hinde Bond, joined the business.
1960: Greens of the Haymarket closed and Bonds bought the stock and Goodwill.
1961: Nicholas Bond, son of Eric Hinde Bond, was made a Director this year. Eric Hinde Bond became Managing Director.
1962: A branch of Greens was opened in East Dereham in place of a business called Cluttens.
1978: Bonds spent £1,000,000.00 on re-furbishing and re-development of the store, adding a first-floor restaurant, a large confectionery and stationery department, flower shop and wine cellar. In addition, a hairdressing and beauty salon was added. Escalators and automatic doors were included, bring ing the store up-to-date.
1979: The business celebrated 100 years in business by having a Dinner for it's 400 staff at St Andrew's Hall
1982: The business was purchased by the John Lewis Partnership however they have retained the name Bonds and continue to supply the same service as before.
1988: A new multi-storey car park was added.
1990: A new extension allowed for 40% more space to sell.
2001: The store changed policy and started opening on Mondays. The store name was changed to John Lewis.