Leeds Photo Gallery - M&S Archive

M&S was founded in Leeds, so it is the right place for the company to open a museum about its history. It's not a large space and a little bit out of the city centre around the university. Michael Marks was a Jewish immigrant who came to England from today's Belarus in 1884. He opened Penny Bazaar, a stall in Kirkgate Market, in 1884. He partnered with Tom Spencer 10 years later to grow the business, creating Marks & Spencer. M&S started selling umbrellas for ladies and children in 1927. In the 1930s, the company advertised themselves as the "family store" with items for kids. They offered mechanical toys, game sets, and of course, clothes. This display case shows items from their penny bazaar from 1890-1920.