Press release: Debenhams archive saved by cross-sector collaboration

A major rescue effort has secured the future of the historic Debenhams archive.

After department store chain Debenhams went into administration in 2020, the Crisis Management Team (CMT) for Business Archives moved quickly to safeguard its archives – an important record of more than 200 years of retail history.

The collection is diverse, including early company diaries, advertisements, store photographs, staff records, and even examples of staff uniforms and own-brand products.

Founded in 1778 as a single shop in London, at its peak it had department stores in 178 locations worldwide. Its brand and website are now owned by Boohoo.

Debenhams’ archives were saved by an extraordinary cooperative effort across several sectors, including from the Business Archives Council, Geoff Rowley and Alastair Massey (the Administrators) of FRP Advisory and their agents at Hilco. Collections information was provided by Janice Tullock Associates. Emergency storage for the collection was provided by the South West Heritage Trust, supported by a Records at Risk grant from The National Archives. The collection has now been permanently rehoused at the City of Westminster Archives Centre.

Dr Michael Anson, Chair of the Business Archives Council, said: “We are delighted that Debenhams history has been saved. This successful collaboration between heritage and insolvency sectors is sending a clear message: keep archives of businesses for future generations, so they are not lost forever.”

The Administrators said “Household brands like Debenhams are an important part of our cultural and economic history, so we’re happy to have played a part in preserving this historic material. We hope it will offer lasting value to researchers, historians and the wider public.”

Two case studies detailing the collaborative rescue operation and showcasing highlights from the collection are now published on the Managing Business Archives website. City of Westminster Archives Centre is now working towards cataloguing the collection so it can be accessible to researchers.

Notes for editors

Case Studies:

Collaborating across sectors: saving the Debenhams archive https://managingbusinessarchives.co.uk/saving-the-debenhams-archive

Bringing the Debenhams Archive to The Nation: Collection Highlights and Future Plans https://managingbusinessarchives.co.uk/debenhams-archive-highlights-future

The Crisis Management Team for Business Archives co-ordinates efforts to preserve business records in cases of liquidations, administrations, takeovers and other circumstances where records may be in danger. It includes representatives from the Archives and Records Association, the Archives and Records Council Wales, the Ballast Trust (Scotland), British Records Association, Business Archives Council, The National Archives, and individuals from the academic and archive sectors.

The Managing Business Archives website is maintained by the Business Archives Council and was co-created by the Business Archives Council and The National Archives.

Requests for interviews:

Richard Wiltshire MBE, Trustee of the Business Archives Council and BAC representative on the Crisis Management Team (CMT) for Business Archives

ricshire@hotmail.com

07813 740045