SAVEMORELegacy

Hull · 1953 —

From a market stall to Britain’s largest shop floor.

The story of Clifford and Mary Dunn — who opened Hull’s first self-service shop, built Savemore Stores, and started again with Clifford Dunn Supermarkets. An archive of their work, their stores and the people who shopped there.

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Mary & Clifford Dunn
Mary & Clifford Dunnc. 1964–65

A few of the moments

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1953Three market days a week; two trips to London to buy stock. 1958Savemore Stores opens in Market Place — Hull’s first self-service shop. 1960The old Curzon Cinema becomes a cut-price supermarket. 1965Stepney’s Save More: the biggest selling floor of any UK shop.
The original market stall
The original market stallc. 1953–58

Chapter I · The Stall

Three market days a week, in all weathers.

In 1953 a former newsboy took a stall on Hull’s open market. Twice a week Clifford drove to London to buy stock and hunt out bargains, then sold them back home — with Mary beside him and a queue that became a landmark.

“He was a grocer at heart, but he brought a new style of shopping to Hull.”

Ron Lang, Hull Chamber of Trade
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From the archive

The stores, in their day

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The first shop, Market PlaceThe first shop, Market Placec. 1958–60 Savemore, George StreetSavemore, George Streetc. 1960–63 Priory SupermarketPriory Supermarketc. 1962–64 Savemore Supermarkets lorrySavemore Supermarkets lorryc. 1964–65

Did you work at, or shop at, a Dunn store?

Photos, receipts, carrier bags, a memory of the Saturday queue — every piece helps complete the record, and every contributor is honoured on the Memory Wall.

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