{{Use dmy dates, date=January 2022 Caleys Windsor 27 June 2006

Caleys was a

department store A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, the department store made a dramatic app ...

in Windsor,

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Berk ...

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. It opened in the High Street in 1823, when an existing family business transferred from Castle Street, now Castle Hill. For much of the 20th century it was part of department store groups and it acquired royal warrants. However, by the early 21st century it had ceased to be viable and was closed.

History

The store was established by John Caley and his wife Mary Ann Caley on 5 April 1823 as advertised in the Windsor Express at the time and remained a family business for over a century, growing into a well regarded department store opposite

Windsor Guildhall The Windsor Guildhall is the town hall of Windsor, Berkshire, England. It is situated in the High Street, about from Castle Hill, which leads to the main public entrance to Windsor Castle. It is a Grade I listed building. History A deed o ...

which is close to

Windsor Castle Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It is strongly associated with the English and succeeding British royal family, and embodies almost a millennium of architectural history. The original cast ...

. The business was purchased by

Selfridge Provincial Stores Selfridge Provincial Stores was a holding company of a group of department stores in the United Kingdom. The company was formed by Selfridge & Co. in 1926 and was active until 1940. History In 1926, financier Jimmy White convinced Harry Gordon ...

in 1919. This group, together with Caleys, was acquired by the

John Lewis Partnership The John Lewis Partnership plc (JLP) is a British company which operates John Lewis & Partners department stores, Waitrose & Partners supermarkets, its banking and financial services, and other retail-related activities. The privately-held publ ...

in 1940.

Decline and closure

As a number of the

partnership A partnership is an arrangement where parties, known as business partners, agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests. The partners in a partnership may be individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments o ...

's branches were disposed of, others enlarged and new stores built, Caleys became the smallest of the John Lewis department stores. On 18 January 2006, John Lewis announced the closure of the store, stating that 'the location, size and layout of the building will always stand in the way of any prospect of a return to profitable trading'. Caleys closed in July 2006. The site was redeveloped in 2010 with the addition of 2 extra floors to become a multi use site consisting of the Macdonald Windsor Hotel as the major tenant, with a TK Maxx department store and Esquires coffee shop also present. The original frontages have been largely preserved.

Royal warrants

Caleys held two royal warrants of appointment, at the time of the closure, as 'supplier of household and fancy goods' to

Her Majesty The Queen The precise style of British sovereigns has varied over the years. style is officially proclaimed in two languages:UK ParliamentRoyal Titles Act 1953(1 & 2 Eliz. 2 c. 9) Proclamation of 28 May 1953 made in accordance with the Royal Titles Act 195 ...

and as 'supplier of household and fancy goods and millinery' to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

Sources

*''Windsor Express'' and its successors. (Various editions, early 19th century to early 21st century.) *''Windlesora''. (Windsor Local History Group, various editions.)
''Windlesora'' on ''The Royal Windsor Web Site''
Retrieved 16 November 2013.

References and notes

External links

For a discussion on the possible origin of Caleys. Retrieved 16 November 2013. Buildings and structures in Windsor, Berkshire Defunct retail companies of the United Kingdom Defunct department stores of the United Kingdom John Lewis Partnership Selfridges