Grosvenor Museum exhibition ‘More than a Shop - Browns of Chester’

More than a Shop is an exhibition at the Grosvenor Museum until 1st September. On display in the Coins gallery, the exhibition tells the stories from the Browns of Chester archive collection, cared for by Cheshire Archives and Local Studies.

The exhibition showcases work by local creatives and people’s memories of Browns.  It captures what the department store meant to its community. 

Councillor Lisa Denson, Cabinet Member for A Fairer Future said:

“Re-live the memories of the iconic Browns of Chester. The building is now in new ownership, and we wait to see how it will once again welcome visitors to the city. The exhibition is inspired by people’s memories of Browns and the archive collection held by Cheshire Archives and Local Studies.

“Many thanks to the people who shared their stories and experiences of the famous store at a workshop and reminiscence recording session. This soundscape, posters and music composition were commissioned by the Cheshire West and Chester Arts Team as part of the Chester Rows High Street Heritage Action Zone funded by Historic England.”

Browns of Chester was founded in 1780 by Susannah Brown, the department store was a pillar of Chester's commercial and cultural life. Its status and brand were such that when Debenhams took it over in 1976, it was the only shop in the chain which traded under its original name.

The closure of Browns department store in May 2021 marked the end of 230 years of continuous trading from the Grade I listed building on Eastgate Street.

Geoff Bird is a radio and podcast producer with over twenty years’ experience making live programmes and documentaries. He is passionate about oral history and the platform it provides people to have their voices and stories heard. Conversations were recorded by Geoff, which he edited to create an entertaining soundscape, that can be heard at the exhibition.

Extracts from the soundscape:

“Do you know, at one time Brown’s was known for looking after you from birth to death. They could organise a christening, they could organise engagement parties, your wedding and they could even bury you.”

“It was very old fashioned, Brown’s I think had sold out to Debenhams in the early 1970’s. Debenhams was never mentioned, it was Browns of Chester, it was the principal shopping destination.”

Cheshire Archives and Local Studies hold the full recordings.

Artist Lisa Harman is a Letterpress Printing and Marbling artist who works from her studio in the crypt of Arthouse Café, Bridge Street. Lisa helped members of the public create their own letterpress words inspired by Browns.  She has also created a set of letterpress posters inspired by the collection of Browns marketing materials from the archives.

Other exhibitions at the museum include ‘Retracing Footsteps – The Changing Landscape of Yr Wyddfa / Snowdon’, ‘Sporting Life’, The Romance of Ruins - the Etchings of George Cuitt (opening 20 July) and returning in September ‘Louise Rayner: Victorian Watercolour.’

The Grosvenor Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am to 5pm and Sunday, 1pm to 4pm. Closed on Monday, but open on Bank Holiday Mondays.

Entry is free but donations are welcome.