John Barker and Company Limited

Registered 1888. Dissolved <1916. Company number 27164
This large and famous Kensington High Street department store was incorporated in 1888 and later re-registered. It acquired competitors Pontings in 1906 and Derry & Toms in 1920 but continued to run them as separate entities. A major Art Deco style building project was started in 1930 created virtual palaces and on the roof of Derry & Toms, Europes largest roof garden of 1.5 acres was created. The Barkers group was purchased by House of Fraser in 1957 and it was systematically dismantled with Pontings being closed in 1971 and Derry & Toms in 1973. Barkers store itself was reduce from 600,000 square feet to only 140,000 feet and continued until 2006 when it closed.
Capital £2,230,000 in 37,000 5½% Cumulative Preference shares of £5, 600,000 6% Cumulative Preference shares of £1 and 1,445,000 Ordinary shares of £1.