Edwin Jones : The man behind Southampton's Debenhams store

Edwin Jones was born on February 1, 1832, in Romsey, the son of Edward and Allnutt Jones.

In 1841 he was living with his parents at Middlebridge Street, Romsey and educated at Rev J Yarnold’s school also in Romsey.

Edwin worked as a draper's apprentice in Romsey and Winchester for a Mr Godfrey and at Shoolbred’s department store in London.

Aged 19 he was working for William Fowler's Drapery in Southampton High Street In 1860 with the help of two sisters and an apprentice he opened a haberdashery in East Street living above the shop. He soon moved to larger premises at 31-32 East Street, later acquiring other adjoining properties.

His private residence was at East Park Terrace.

Jones made a shrewd investment in cotton just before the American Civil War. Then, when it became scarce he made a substantial profit.

Around 1880 he bought a row of cottages facing Hoglands Park which he demolished and built his premises known as Queen's Buildings. This allowed him to add further departments including a food hall and large furniture section. An 1880 directory shows his business as occupying Queen’s Buildings, as well as shops in East Street and the High Street.

The store became part of the Debenhams group in 1928 but was destroyed during the 1940 Blitz.

Charles Stacey joined the staff days before and remembered arriving for work and finding the store gone. As he was about to return home, the General Manager said “Quick, Stacey, get some paper, ink and brushes and write a poster saying that we will sell rations from our delivery lorries.”

Anticipating a probable shortage of tea, Edwin Jones' buyers had purchased extra tea which was stored in the cellars in large wooden tea chests. When it was hit with incendiary bombs, the fire brigade flooded the cellars destroying a valuable supply of tea.

The bombed store was replaced with an entirely new building in 1959 with three restaurants named Coronet, Princess and Queens.

Edwin was known for his generosity and involvement in public affairs, on one occasion in 1873 he entertained thousands of children and adults to a tea.

A Liberal, he was elected councillor for All Saints ward in 1870; became senior bailiff in 1871 and a sheriff and magistrate in 1872.

He was Mayor of Southampton in 1873 and 1875 and made unsuccessful attempts to enter parliament as a Liberal MP.

In 1890 he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire.

He was also a Justice of the Peace.

In 1869 Edwin married Annette Sharp, a solicitor’s daughter from Christchurch, but she died at home in September 1870 aged 30.

The couple had a daughter called Annetta Maude Jones. Her grave is in Southampton Old Cemetery.

Jones lived at 'Fairlea' in Bassett when he married his second wife, Fanny Louisa White in Cowes in 1874.

The same year he was named a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society for the arrangements he made for receiving the body of David Livingstone in Southampton.

The family moved to Harefield House in 1889. It had extensive grounds and Edwin gave a large part of them over for staff recreation with a sports pavilion, tennis courts, a bowling green and cricket and football pitches.

Every Sunday the staff relaxed in the grounds of their employer’s residence.

The house was close to where Harefield School now stands. It was set in 238 acres with pleasure gardens, terraces, an arboretum and an ornamental pond.

Produce grown on the Harefield estate was sold in the Southampton store.

Jones died at Harefield House on July 25, 1896.

His funeral took place at St. James Church, West End where the Pulpit and East Window were funded as monuments to his memory.

His grave is in West End Cemetery.

In his will of over £84,000 Edwin left monies to the South Hants Infirmary, the Abbey Chapel in Romsey and to family members.

Martin Brisland is a tour guide with SeeSouthampton.co.uk .