Thurman & Malin - A look back at one of Derby's finest stores

In Issue 1 we recalled the history of the Midland Drapery, with some of your favourite memories of it. We mentioned at the time that when people reminisced about old shops in Derby, alongside the Midland Drapery there was always frequent talk of Ranby’s, Barlow and Taylor’s and Thurman and Malin’s. Today we take a trip down memory lane to look at the origins and history of the latter.

It might come as a surprise to some to find out that the origins of Thurman and Malin actually stretch back further than the store itself which opened in 1879.

The origins can actually be traced back to another business on St. Peter’s Street – George & George – whose own origins go all the way back to the early 19th century.

It was here that both John Thurman and William Malin worked as young employees and when the business closed in 1878, they both announced their intention to open a shop at 64 St. Peter’s Street. It was in April the following year that an announcement in the Derby Mercury heralded the arrival of their new store.

Rapid expansion followed over the next few years with additional space being purchased and built upon St. Peter’s Street and St. Peter’s Churchyard.

Much of their early advertising would be considered ahead of its time. They used larger than average adverts and it certainly seems that, as a store, they were very much forward thinkers. As with all businesses, they faced challenges and as with many businesses in the area they shared the challenge of the aftermath of the Great Flood of 1932.

With a reported four feet of water in the basement, they suffered damage to stored stock and the lift engine but, unlike other stores, there was no advert placed afterwards for flood damaged stock.

It is often easy to gauge the depth of affection for an old shop by the memories of the people who visited it and when we talked on our Facebook Page about Thurman and Malin the memories came flooding back.

Eileen Robinson told us: “In the mid-sixties Thurman and Malin made my Bedford College of Physical Education cape for me. It was SO warm - navy blue and a plaid lining - all quality warm wool! I kept it for years and years and regret I don’t still have it."

Carolyn Barrett described it as ‘a lovely space to shop in...with chairs...to make shopping special and a pleasure’.

Patricia Shreeve summed it up very well with her words: "I would love to be able to browse this store once more."

Christine Pooler recalled that when she ‘started grammar school it was one of the stores we had to go to for my uniform...so sad it is long gone." Unfortunately for residents of modern-day Derby it is now long-gone, though even as far into the store’s life as 1969 it was exhibiting its usual forward-thinking manner when it began taking Barclaycard payments.

The June 1970 announcement that the store was to close, came as a shock to a great many people. The news came in the Derby Evening Telegraph. Under the headline ‘THURMAN AND MALIN TO CLOSE: 100 STAFF AFFECTED’ the paper reported that Mr. Vernon Malin – chairman of the Board of Directors – stated at the time that the closure was due to ‘private family reasons’.

As was the case with the Midland Drapery, the store has now taken on an iconic place within Derby’s history, harking back to a day when the entire centre of Derby was a thriving area of shops and businesses. As is also the case of the Midland Drapery, Thurman and Malin may be gone but it is certainly not forgotten.