Matthias Robinson

Matthias Robinson was a small chain of department stores in the North of England, before being purchased by Debenhams.

History

In 1875 Matthias Robinson opened a drapery shop on Lynn Street, Hartlepool. He quickly expanded the business by taking on the store next door, before buying the large building next to his store and calling it Lynn House.^[1]

On the advice of Doctors, Matthias moved his family to Stockton on Tees due to his wife's health condition and in 1896, a new store was opened in Stockton-on-Tees^[2] as the first Robinsons department store. The two houses that were converted on Stockton High Street were destroyed by fire in December 1899, but a new store was completely rebuilt on the same site re-opening in May 1901.^[3] The new store had 48 departments, a restaurant and a cafe. The building was designed by Barnes & Coates of Sunderland with the assistance of W. Basil Scott and is an early example of steel frame construction in England.^[4]

By 1912, the Hartlepool business had grown further with premises opening on the opposite side of Lynn Street, which Matthias called The Coliseum and buildings on Whitby Street which he named Birmingham House.^[5] The business continued to grow and in 1914 opened a new department store in Briggate, Leeds.^[6] This store was later expanded in 1938 by purchasing neighbouring department store H & D Hart.^[7]

After the death of Matthias Stockton, his sons took over the running of the business with his son Cyril running the Stockton branch,^[8] and Lionel running the Leeds store.

In 1962, Debenhams purchased all three stores of Matthias Robinson for £2.8 million.^[9] The stores continued to operate under the Matthias Robinson or Robinson name, with the Hartlepool store being demolish in the late 1960s.^[10] In 1973 as part of the rebranding exercise the name was dropped in favour for Debenhams and the two remaining stores are still operating.

References