Marshall & Snelgrove was a fine shop - did you shop there?

It is printed in gold colouring on the white insole and, underneath the store’s name, are the names of the Yorkshire towns in which it was based at the time: Leeds, Harrogate and Bradford.

Marshall & Snelgrove shop was a high-end department store specialising in women’s fashions, from lingerie to gowns, millinery and shoes. In Bradford, the shop stood at the top of Darley Street, on the corner now occupied by Oxfam. The site was formerly the Royal Hotel. This is clearly seen on the two stone plaques on the facade of the building. One reads the Royal Hotel, the other gives the date 1887.

Marshall & Snelgrove stood at the top of Darley Street

Marshall & Snelgrove dates back to 1837 when Yorkshireman James Marshall opened a drapers shop at 11 Vere Street, London, in partnership with a Mr Wilson.

In 1848, on the retirement of Mr Wilson, he was joined by John Snelgrove - a former assistant in the shop - and the firm's name was changed to Marshall & Snelgrove.

Following rapid success, the business expanded and Marshall & Snelgrove took over grand new premises at 334 to 348 Oxford Street in 1851. James Marshall retired in 1871 and his son James C Marshall took over his share, helping to expand the business further by opening stores in fashionable resorts such as Harrogate and Scarborough to encourage their customers to shop while on holiday.

James C Marshall was President of the Linen and Woollen Drapers' Institution for nearly 40 years until his death in 1925 at the age of 95.

The firm continued to remain in family hands and additional branches were opened across the country in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, York, Leicester and Southport.

The elegant shoes from Marshall & Snelgrove

In the 1960s some branches were closed following changing lifestyles and fashions.

The Oxford Street store was demolished and rebuilt between 1969 to 71 and continued to trade as Marshall & Snelgrove until 1972. The store was then renamed Debenhams, becoming the group's flagship shop.

The regional branches of Marshall & Snelgrove were all either rebranded as Debenhams or closed by the end of the

The Bradford shop closed in 1971, along with next-door neighbour Taylor and Parsons, furnishers and hardware merchants.

As well as Marshall & Snelgrove, in its heyday Bradford boasted some of the country's top department stores. Busby's (which also later become Debenhams), Brown, Muff (later Rackhams), Lingards and Sunwin House.

The shoes pictured belonged to the late Nancy Simpson of York, and are now owned by her daughter Elizabeth Baker.

*Do any readers know when Marshall & Snelgrove opened in Bradford?

*Tell us your memories of the store - did you shop there? *What was it like inside and what sort of goods do you remember being on sale?

*Which Bradford shops do you miss and why? Maybe you have photographs of them. We would love to hear from you. Email helen.mead@nqyne.co.uk or visit the T&A's Facebook page.