No 11 Market Place - Denny
 


 

The home of Denny, one of Southwold's longest established businesses

1851
William Denny founds Denny of Southwold as a tailoring business immediately after completing a five-year apprenticeship at the age of 22. The business starts small in a rented room above No 11 but soon needs to expand and moves to Jersey Lodge. 3 Lorne Road.(LK = Lyn Knights, nee Denny, current proprietor; W 1874)

1885 William dies (suicide)

1895
Two of William's brothers, Frederick and Charles Henry have taken over the expanding firm and move it back to its roots at No 11. (LK)

1898
The adjoining premises, No 9 and No 13, including Child's Yard are acquired (LK)

1900
Denny & Son, as it is now called, is already describing itself in its advertisements as "The oldest-established Ladies' and Gentlemen's Tailors". (See advertisement right)

Note: Charles Henry appears to be no longer involved in the business. He married Mabel Grace Pipe this year and, some time afterwards, they emigrate to New South Wales.

1908
Frederick Denny - Denny & Son - Frederick has now opened a slightly more 'downmarket', ready-to-wear branch at 98 High Street (K1908 and 1907 advertisement, right).
 
Denny & Son - Frederick Denny
 

1920
John Burlong Denny - This is the son of Frederick's older brother, Albert, grandson of William Denny, the founder, and the grandfather of the current owner. This year, John returns to Southwold from his home in Lincolnshire to help manage the rapidly expanding Denny business. The firm now has three cutters and 26 tailors. (LK)

1922
John Burlong Denny (SSW)

1924
Frederick Denny dies
 



John Burlong Denny becomes President of the Federation of Merchant Tailors and is Mayor of the Borough of Southwold three times.

 

John Burlong Denny

1960
John Burlong Denny receives the Freedom of the Borough of Southwold

1969
Denny & Son "Southwold & Savile Row"


 

Denny & Son - Now owned by Jack Wilkinson Denny the son of John Burlong Denny and father of the present owner, Lyn Knights. (When did Jack succeed to business?)
 
Jack Wilkinson Denny
 

Lyn Knights (nee Denny)(((When did Lyn succeed)
 
 

2003
Denny of Southwold - Lyn Knights - "Tailors and Lady's Outfitters"
   

Do you have any memories or records about this address? Can you correct any of our information or fill in any of our blanks? If so, please email Barry Tolfree
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SOURCES:
BSD - Bernard Segrave-Daly
BCS = Bygones & Characters of Southwold by Barrett Jenkins
C = Census
CP = Cinema Programme 1958
CSP = Coronation Souvenir Programme 1953
G = Gales Trade Directory
GRO = General Register Office
K = Kelly's Directory
LM = Local memory
M = James Maggs' Southwold Diary 1818-1876
MCG = Methodist Church Guide 1930
NA = National Archives
PP = Pantomime Programme 1933
PLR = Petrol Licence Records
POD = Post Office Directory
PPP = Pier Pavilion Programme 1924, 1926
RCE = Rotary Club Exhibition 1969
SCM = Southwold Catholic Magazine 1923
SCTG = Southwold Corporation Tourist Guide
SER = Southwold Electoral Register
SFP = Southwold Scouts Fete Programme 1947
SG = Southwold Guide
SGCH = Southwold Golf Club Handbook
SLHR = Southwold Local History Recorder 1980s 1990s (Mrs R. McDermot)
SMHS = Southwold Museum & Historical Society
SN = Southwold & Neighbourhood 1903
SPM = Southwold Parish Magazine 1895 -1954
SR = Southwold Recorder 1927, 1932, 1934, 1935
SRB = Southwold Rate Book
SRT = Southwold Railway Timetable 1915
SSAS = Southwold Sea Angling Society Handbook 1909
SST = Southwold Summer Theatre Programmes
SSW = Southwold Shopping Week Programme, June/July 1922
STG = Southwold Town Guide 1930
SVL = Southwold Visitors List 1907, 1930
SVCP = Southwold Victory Celebration Programme 1946
SWCG = Southwold Wesleyan Church Guide
TTR = 'The Town Revisited' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 2000
TTT = ''To The Town' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 1988
W = White’s History, Gazetteer and Directory of Suffolk 1874
 
Note on dates
Unless otherwise stated, dates given do not indicate the years in which the business started or finished but those for which there is firm evidence that it was trading at this address. Sources in brackets; key at bottom of page.


Statement of account issued to Arthur Grubbe for alterations to his trousers, including the conversion of one pair into knee breeches. Arthur was a son of J E Grubbe, Southwold's longest-serving mayor who lived at South Green House (Now Regency House and Greyfriars).
At this time, the company was still located at No 3, Lorne Road. Poignantly, this statement shows the initial 'W' crossed out by hand. It is dated Christmas 1885, the year that William died by cutting his throat.

Image reproduced courtesy of Robert Temple

Click image to enlarge

The premises in c 1890 showing Denny's shop on the right before they had expanded to incorporate the adjacent Canova shop on the left

Part of a phototograph reproduced from Barrett Jenkins' book. 'A Visit to Southwold' courtesy of the author's daughter. Ann Thornton

Click the image to see the complete photo

Denny's shop front at roughly the same date as the above.

Southwold Museum P3811
Click picture to enlarge


The Denny shop front at the turn of the century after the firm had taken over both shops. Reproduced from a contemporary guide 'Southwold & Neighbourhood', 1902
Click the picture to emlarge


Denny & Son advertisement from 1900



Advertisement in 'A Guide to Southwold', dated approx 1905.
with thanks to Robert Temple

Advertisement from a Southwold Tourist Guide 1905. With thanks to Prof J Hadgraft.

Click the image to enlarge


In 1907, Denny were promoting their ladies' range and making a bid for the emerging seaside holiday market. They have also opened a ready-to-wear branch in the High Street.


Advertisement in the 1922 issue of the Southwold Corporation Tourist Guide

From the programme of 'Southwold Shopping Week', 1922. Note that the firm now advertises that it is at 9-13. No 9 is Child's Yard, which tthey own but do not occupy

Mid 1920s advertisement in Southwold Town Guide.

Art Deco advertisement from the Southwold Magazine in July 1930
Both above images courtesy of Heather Osmer



A 1930s Southwold Cinema advertising slide (somewhat the worse for wear) for Jantzen swimwear.
Southwold Museum

Advertisement from the 1936 edition of The Southwold Visitors List
Courtesy of Margaret Turnbull
Click the image to enlarge

J B Denny in 1946

J B Denny, Mayor of Southwold pictured in the Souvenir Programme for the Southwold Victory Celebrations in 1946

1946 advert for Denny

1946 advertisement appearing in the Souvenir Programme for the Southwold Victory Celebrations.

With thanks to David Wright for supplying the two images above

Jack Denny - mid 1980s

Jack Denny photographed in the mid 1980s.

Reproduced from 'To the Town' by kind permission of Stephen Wolfenden

Click the picture to enlarge