1837 Garwood Burton Palmer opens small drapery shop of 750sq ft in Great Yarmouth Market Place
1837 Queen Victoria crowned following death of William IV
1837–1880 Expansion by acquiring adjacent shops and cottages behind the store until by 1880 there was a long narrow store stretching back 200 feet and extending between Rows 54 and 56
1888 Garwood Palmer died. His two nephews, James and Ernest, took over and the firm became known as Palmers Bros
1892 The store was destroyed by fire. A new store was built incorporating a unique covered arcade in Row 54
1902 Palmers was the first public building in Great Yarmouth to be lit by electricity
1907 Further additions giving the store 31 departments and a floor area 3o times bigger than the original shop
1908 James Palmer died. His son, Percy takes over
1908 Palmers apprenticeship scheme started.
1921 Palmers start making batons for Sir Henry Wood, founder of the Promenade concerts
1939 Incorporation – company becomes Palmers Ltd
1937 Centenary celebrations
1941 Store damaged by German bombing raid
1960 Percy Palmer died. His son-in-law, Graham Sturrock becomes chairman
1961 Palmers car park opened
1961 Plumptons of Bury St Edmunds purchased
1966 New shopfront with arcade display windows. Row 54 closed and incorporated into store
1967 Palmers Coffee Room opens
1981 Founder members of Association of Department Stores allowing Palmers to be competitive with the larger groups but still retain the personal service that only an independent can give
1986 New shopfront incorporating arcade windows into selling space
1987 Princess Alexandra officially launches Palmers' 150th anniversary celebrations
1993 Bruce Sturrock becomes Chairman
1993 Wendy Cole (nee Sturrock) joins Palmers from Bloomingdales in New York
1997 Palmers Pinnacle – a pinnacle on St Nicholas Church is named after Palmers following a donation to the church restoration fund to mark the store's 160th anniversary
2000 Palmers Millennium Dome – Palmers awarded architectural prize for the refurbishment of an ornate 19th century skylight on 1st floor
2004 Chadds of Lowestoft purchased
2006 Company restructure – Bruce and Wendy become sole owners
2008 Palmers start selling online
2011 Emma Sturrock joins the company and sets up new website www.palmerstores.com
2012 Prince Charles visits Palmers to mark the stores 175th Anniversary
2017 180th Anniversary celebrations
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