Leekes
Encyclopedia
Leekes is a Welsh
based retailer, with seven stores based in South Wales
, South West England
and The Midlands.
The company was established by James Henry Leeke in the Rhondda in 1897. He started trading as a traditional builder's merchant selling ironmongery and hardware from the front room of the family home in a small terraced house in Clydach Vale
.
Since then Leekes has expanded with a Home Improvements Centre based in Tonypandy
opening in the mid 1960s, and department stores opening in Talbot Green
(1977), Cross Hands
(1984), Melksham
(1992), Bedworth
(2010), Fenton
(2010) and Bilston
(2011). The company also owns the Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort, and Hensol Castle
.
in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valley
, Wales
in 1897. James Leeke initially operated a smithy for sharpening tools at the rear of the house and then opened a small ironmongery business in the front room.
The Leekes business survived the following two decades intact and James’ son Llewellyn took over the business from his father in 1933 at the age of 22. In 1948 Llewellyn bought a larger shop in Dunraven street, Tonypandy which is still trading today. At this time the ironmonger and builders merchant was operated almost entirely by the family.
In the late 60s Llewellyn’s son Gerald joined the business full time and extended the range at Dunraven street and established kitchen and bathrooms displays. They took over the shop next door for an additional showroom. In 1965 the company turnover had reached £38,000 and the old goods yard station in Trelaw, Rhondda was acquired for expansion, combining the retail premises and builders yard with some car parking.
Leekes bought a site in Talbot Green and opened a store in 1977 labelled as its first “DIY superstore.”
In 2007 eldest son of Llewellyn, David Leeke wrote an account of the development of the Welsh business from the boom in the coal industry, through the Depression and two World Wars to the 21st century.
In 2009 Leekes bought out Midlands based Cole's Home Furnishing thus creating 3 new stores in England.
In 2011 Proposals have been made to have a new store built on the existing site in Talbot Green to coincide with the new town centre scheme which will be located on the current Leekes and Steadler factory sites. The development will also include a supermarket, hotel and cinema, as well as other facilities for residence. The Leekes store, if approved, would be one of the first builds to be completed.
Cabinet Furniture, Upholstery, Bedroom Furniture, Kitchen Furniture, Sound and Vision, Kitchen Appliances, Kitchen and Tableware, Home Accessories, Gifts, Fitted Bathrooms, Bathroom Accessories, Fitted Kitchens, Conservatories, Interior Design Studio, Fire Studio, Fitness Equipment & Leisure, DIY, Garden Living, Building Centre, Fitted Carpets, Decorating and Home Textiles.
. This marked the start of diversification of the business into the leisure industry.
The company then built and developed The Vale Resort which comprises a luxury four star hotel, state-of-the-art leisure club, Wales
' largest spa and two championship golf courses set in over 650 acres (2.6 km²) of beautiful parkland.
estate that adjoins the Vale resort. The Estate includes a 17th century stately home, an historically important mid-18th century landscaped park, a 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) lake and serpentine pond. The castle is currently being developed into a world class spa hotel.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
based retailer, with seven stores based in South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, South West England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
and The Midlands.
The company was established by James Henry Leeke in the Rhondda in 1897. He started trading as a traditional builder's merchant selling ironmongery and hardware from the front room of the family home in a small terraced house in Clydach Vale
Clydach Vale
Clydach Vale is a village adjoining Tonypandy in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the Rhondda Valley, Wales. It is named for its situation on the Nant Clydach, a tributary of the River Taff.-Integration of villages:...
.
Since then Leekes has expanded with a Home Improvements Centre based in Tonypandy
Tonypandy
Tonypandy is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr Valley. A former industrial coal mining town, today Tonypandy is best known as the site of the Tonypandy Riots....
opening in the mid 1960s, and department stores opening in Talbot Green
Talbot Green
Talbot Green is a village just north of the M4 motorway, in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales in the United Kingdom...
(1977), Cross Hands
Cross Hands
Cross Hands is a village in Carmarthenshire, Wales about 12 miles from Carmarthen . It is supposedly named from the practice of prisoners intended for jail in Carmarthen and Swansea being staged for exchange....
(1984), Melksham
Melksham
Melksham is a medium-sized English town, lying on the River Avon. It lies in the county of Wiltshire.It is situated southeast of the city of Bath, south of Chippenham, west of Devizes and north of Warminster on the A350 national route. The 2001 UK census cited Melksham as having 20,000...
(1992), Bedworth
Bedworth
Bedworth is a market town in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district of Warwickshire, England. It lies northwest of London, east of Birmingham, and north northeast of the county town of Warwick. It is situated between Coventry, to the south, and Nuneaton, to the north.In the 2001 census the town...
(2010), Fenton
Fenton
- England :* Fenton, Cumbria* Fenton, South Kesteven, Lincolnshire* Fenton, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire* Fenton, Northumberland* Fenton, Nottinghamshire* Fenton, Staffordshire - United States :* Fenton, Iowa* Fenton, Louisiana...
(2010) and Bilston
Bilston
Bilston is a town in the English county of West Midlands, situated in the southeastern corner of the City of Wolverhampton. Three wards of Wolverhampton City Council cover the town: Bilston East and Bilston North, which almost entirely comprise parts of the historic Borough of Bilston, and...
(2011). The company also owns the Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort, and Hensol Castle
Hensol Castle
Hensol Castle is a castellated mansion in the gothic architecture style dating from the late 17th century or early 18th century. It is located north of Clawdd Coch and Tredodridge in the parish of Pendoylan in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales...
.
History
James Henry Leeke established Leekes as a blacksmithBlacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valley
Rhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 1897. James Leeke initially operated a smithy for sharpening tools at the rear of the house and then opened a small ironmongery business in the front room.
The Leekes business survived the following two decades intact and James’ son Llewellyn took over the business from his father in 1933 at the age of 22. In 1948 Llewellyn bought a larger shop in Dunraven street, Tonypandy which is still trading today. At this time the ironmonger and builders merchant was operated almost entirely by the family.
In the late 60s Llewellyn’s son Gerald joined the business full time and extended the range at Dunraven street and established kitchen and bathrooms displays. They took over the shop next door for an additional showroom. In 1965 the company turnover had reached £38,000 and the old goods yard station in Trelaw, Rhondda was acquired for expansion, combining the retail premises and builders yard with some car parking.
Leekes bought a site in Talbot Green and opened a store in 1977 labelled as its first “DIY superstore.”
In 2007 eldest son of Llewellyn, David Leeke wrote an account of the development of the Welsh business from the boom in the coal industry, through the Depression and two World Wars to the 21st century.
In 2009 Leekes bought out Midlands based Cole's Home Furnishing thus creating 3 new stores in England.
In 2011 Proposals have been made to have a new store built on the existing site in Talbot Green to coincide with the new town centre scheme which will be located on the current Leekes and Steadler factory sites. The development will also include a supermarket, hotel and cinema, as well as other facilities for residence. The Leekes store, if approved, would be one of the first builds to be completed.
Present
In 2008 Leekes remains a family business with many family members from the fourth generation. They currently have seven large department stores situated in Wales, the South West and the Midlands. Additionally they have a small double glazing outlets in Reading, Brent Knoll, Caerphilly, Hereford, Swindon and Thornbury. The store locations:- Talbot GreenTalbot GreenTalbot Green is a village just north of the M4 motorway, in the County Borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales in the United Kingdom...
- Cowbridge Road, Talbot Green, Rhondda Cynon Taf, CF72 8XU View map - Cross HandsCross HandsCross Hands is a village in Carmarthenshire, Wales about 12 miles from Carmarthen . It is supposedly named from the practice of prisoners intended for jail in Carmarthen and Swansea being staged for exchange....
- Business Park, Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire, SA14 6RB View map - TonypandyTonypandyTonypandy is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr Valley. A former industrial coal mining town, today Tonypandy is best known as the site of the Tonypandy Riots....
- Trealaw Road, Tonypandy , Rhondda Cynon Taff, CF40 2NX View map - MelkshamMelkshamMelksham is a medium-sized English town, lying on the River Avon. It lies in the county of Wiltshire.It is situated southeast of the city of Bath, south of Chippenham, west of Devizes and north of Warminster on the A350 national route. The 2001 UK census cited Melksham as having 20,000...
- Beanacre Park, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8AG View map - BedworthBedworthBedworth is a market town in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district of Warwickshire, England. It lies northwest of London, east of Birmingham, and north northeast of the county town of Warwick. It is situated between Coventry, to the south, and Nuneaton, to the north.In the 2001 census the town...
- Leicester Road, Bedworth, Warwickshire, CV12 8AH View map - BilstonBilstonBilston is a town in the English county of West Midlands, situated in the southeastern corner of the City of Wolverhampton. Three wards of Wolverhampton City Council cover the town: Bilston East and Bilston North, which almost entirely comprise parts of the historic Borough of Bilston, and...
- Great Bridge Road, Bilston, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, WV14 8LB View map - FentonFenton- England :* Fenton, Cumbria* Fenton, South Kesteven, Lincolnshire* Fenton, West Lindsey, Lincolnshire* Fenton, Northumberland* Fenton, Nottinghamshire* Fenton, Staffordshire - United States :* Fenton, Iowa* Fenton, Louisiana...
- King Street, Fenton, Stoke on Trent, ST4 3NJ View map - ReadingReading, BerkshireReading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
- Henry Street Garden Centre, Swallowfield Road, Reading, RG2 9JY View map - Brent KnollBrent KnollBrent Knoll is a village in Somerset, England, which lies on the southern edge of Brent Knoll – a hill with a height of 137 metres that dominates the low surrounding landscape of the Somerset Levels.-History:...
- Sanders Garden World, Bristol Road, Brent Knoll, Highbridge, TA9 4HJ View map - CaerphillyCaerphillyCaerphilly is a town in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales, located at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. It is a commuter town of Cardiff and Newport, which are located some 7.5 miles and 12 miles away, respectively...
- Caerphilly Garden Centre, Penrhos, Nantgarw, Cardiff, CF15 7UN View map - HerefordHerefordHereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
- Wyevale Garden Centre, Kings Acre Road, Hereford, HR14 OSE View map - SwindonSwindonSwindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
- Blooms Garden Centre, Hay Lane, Near Wroughton, Swindon, SN14 9QN View map - ThornburyThornbury-Placenames:Australia*Thornbury, Victoria*Thornbury railway station, MelbourneCanada*Thornbury, OntarioEngland*Thornbury, Devon*Thornbury, Herefordshire*Thornbury, South Gloucestershire**Thornbury Castle*Thornbury, West YorkshireNew Zealand...
- Wyevale Garden Centre, Milberry Heath, Wotton Under Edge, Bristol, GL12 8QH View map
Operations
Each Leekes department store is divided into the following departments:Cabinet Furniture, Upholstery, Bedroom Furniture, Kitchen Furniture, Sound and Vision, Kitchen Appliances, Kitchen and Tableware, Home Accessories, Gifts, Fitted Bathrooms, Bathroom Accessories, Fitted Kitchens, Conservatories, Interior Design Studio, Fire Studio, Fitness Equipment & Leisure, DIY, Garden Living, Building Centre, Fitted Carpets, Decorating and Home Textiles.
The Vale Resort
In 1994, Leekes Retail and Leisure Group took ownership of a golf club in Hensol in the Vale of GlamorganVale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
. This marked the start of diversification of the business into the leisure industry.
The company then built and developed The Vale Resort which comprises a luxury four star hotel, state-of-the-art leisure club, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
' largest spa and two championship golf courses set in over 650 acres (2.6 km²) of beautiful parkland.
Hensol Castle
In 2003, the company announced the purchase of the Hensol CastleHensol Castle
Hensol Castle is a castellated mansion in the gothic architecture style dating from the late 17th century or early 18th century. It is located north of Clawdd Coch and Tredodridge in the parish of Pendoylan in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales...
estate that adjoins the Vale resort. The Estate includes a 17th century stately home, an historically important mid-18th century landscaped park, a 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) lake and serpentine pond. The castle is currently being developed into a world class spa hotel.