Commercial Overprint Society of Great Britain

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Vol. 1 No. 8; February 1, 2004

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John Barker & Co. Ltd.

by Michael Behm

In October 1795, Mr. J. H. Gosling founded a drapery store at 80 George Street, Richmond, London. J H Gosling's sons and grandsons succeeded him in the business throughout the 19th century. The last links with the founder's family ended with the deaths of Matthew Gosling and Herbert Gosling at the end of the 19th century. The manager at the time was Arthur Snow and his son, Ernest Snow, succeeded him at the store. A Gosling overprint has been reported; although no image is available, the pattern is said to be "Received / for / J. H. GOSLING / & SONS"

There is a simpler pattern for which we have an image:

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Meanwhile, John Barker (1840-1914) opened a small linen drapery shop at 91-93 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London, in 1870. The business expanded rapidly and by 1880 John Barker was trading in fifteen shops. In 1888, a partnership, John Barker & Co., was formally established. By 1892, John Barker & Co. was one of the largest stores in London, with over forty departments ranging from furnishing and plumbing to fashion and food, and employing over 1,000 staff. In 1894, John Barker & Co. became a public limited company, John Barker & Co. Ltd. At that time the company then owned thirty-three shops and by 1895 it owned every property on Kensington High Street between King Street and Young Street.

In 1907, John Barker & Co. Ltd. purchased the business and premises of Ponting Brothers Ltd, a large drapery store in Kensington High Street. Pontings is known to have used commecrcial overprints on the 1912 issue, when it was a part of the Barker holdings.

By 1912, the Barker companies were using commercial overprints.

In 1920, John Barker & Co. Ltd. acquired the business of Derry & Toms, drapers, Kensington, London. Derry & Toms had used commercial overprints at least as early as 1901.

In 1925, Barker acquired Zeeta Co. Ltd., a bakery and confectionery business in London, and in November 1946 or April 1947 (accounts vary), Barker acquired Gosling & Sons Ltd, drapers, Richmond, Surrey. A complete re-building program of Barkers' main store in Kensington High Street was begun in 1935, but was interrupted by the 1939-1945 World War. Work was restarted in 1955 and the new building was opened in 1958.

The End of the Firms

John Barker & Co. Ltd. was acquired by House of Fraser Ltd., department store retailers, Glasgow, Scotland, in August 1957. In 1960, the Zeeta Co Ltd properties were disposed of and certain freehold properties adjoining their main premises were acquired on behalf of Gosling & Sons Ltd.

A subsidiary company, John Barker (Construction & Development) Ltd., was incorporated on 29 January 1965 to continue the business of builders and decorators formally carried out by John Barker & Co. Ltd. In 1968, Gosling & Sons Ltd. ceased to trade and the Richmond store was demolished prior to redevelopment. Gosling & Sons Ltd. was officially liquidated in 1974.

In 1970, it was decided to close Pontings in Kensington High Street and transfer the store to the lower ground floor of Barkers, Kensington High Street, where it was known as "Pontings Bargain Basement - The House of Value." The former Pontings store was sold. The Derry & Toms store was closed in 1972. The name "Pontings" was abandoned for trading purposes in 1974 and the basement was re-named "Barkers' Bargain Basement."

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Resources

• Archives Hub
• Lane, David; Bulletins of the British Commercial Overprint Study Circle

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Send comments or questions to mjbehm@kw.igs.net