IN 1838 in Newcastle upon Tyne, a shop was opened called Bainbridges. It eventually had 23 separate departments and by 1849 became the first department store in the world.

In the early 1950s, the John Lewis partnership bought the store, but the name did not change until 2002. I was brought up in the north east and even in 1961, when I was looking for my wedding headpiece and veil it was Bainbridges, not John Lewis, where I got it from. Just another little story about JL.

Maureen Robinson, Broadway, York.