Blacketts
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1826 |
| Founder | William Blackett |
| Defunct | 1972 |
| Fate | Acquired by Hide & Co. in 1963; stores closed or sold off by 1972 |
| Headquarters | Sunderland , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | Northeast England |
| Products | Department store goods |
Blacketts was a modest chain of department stores located in northeast England, with its main store situated in Sunderland.
History
Established in 1826 by William Blackett in Sunderland, Blackett & Sons began as a drapery business. Over time, it evolved into a comprehensive department store positioned at Union & High Street. Additional outlets were launched in Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland, and Stockton-on-Tees (1939). During the Second World War, the company expanded by acquiring D Hill, Carter & Company in Hartlepool. In early 1961, the chairman, C. K. Rudkin-Jones, sought to purchase Gorringes Department Store in London but was outbid by a consortium composed of Gresham Trust and Charles Neale Investments.
In 1963, Hide & Co., another department store group, took over Blacketts. The Hartlepool branch ceased operations in 1970 and was subsequently repurposed as a discount superstore before becoming The Hill Carter hotel. The Stockton on Tees store was divested to the furniture manufacturer Waring and Gillow. Facing increased competition from other local department stores, the Sunderland flagship location closed its doors in 1972.