How landmark store was brought down

1928 Open for business

US entrepreneurs open a store in Brixton aiming to create a UK version of Woolworths. Nothing is priced at more than a shilling, although prices increase to five shillings the following year.

1986 The merger

BHS merges with Mothercare and Sir Terence Conran’s Habitat to become Storehouse plc.

1989 Testing times

Facing falling sales across the group, Storehouse sheds 900 mid-level jobs and recruits American retail executive David Dworkin as chairman.

2000 Philip Green purchases BHS

Retail tycoon Philip Green pays £200m for BHS with a pension surplus of £5m.

2002 More acquisitions

Green buys the Arcadia empire, acquiring Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Burton. Between 2002 and 2005 BHS shareholders take over £422m in dividends. Green gives his wife, Tina, a £1.2bn payout.

2015 The sell-off

BHS is sold to Retail Acquisitions for £1. By the end of the year the pension fund deficit has reached £226m. Retail Acquisitions begins talks to raise £70m of funding.

2016 Winding up

Faced with a spiralling pension deficit and a lack of resources to reinvent the brand, the administrator admits defeat, and begins to wind up the business.