# The Savemore Stores Legacy

> The story of Clifford & Mary Dunn: Hull’s first self-service shop, the North’s first cut-price supermarket, Britain’s largest shop floor, and Clifford Dunn Supermarkets.

A family-history archive about Clifford Dunn (market trader and grocer) and his wife and co-director Mary Dunn of Hull, East Yorkshire, and their businesses Savemore Stores (1958–1965) and Clifford Dunn Supermarkets (from 1968). Researched and built by their grandson, [James Smith](https://smithy.bio/). Facts are sourced; uncertain items are marked "being researched" and dates marked "c." are estimates. The full text of the site is in [llms-full.txt](https://savemorestores.co.uk/llms-full.txt).

## Key facts
- 1953: Clifford Dunn starts a stall on Hull's open market, buying stock on twice-weekly trips to London.
- June 1958: Savemore Stores opens in Market Place, Hull — the city's first self-service shop.
- 1960: the former Curzon Cinema, George Street, becomes the first fully cut-price supermarket in the North of England.
- 1965: The Guinness Book of Records lists Savemore's Stepney (London) store as having the biggest selling area of any UK shop (20,000 sq ft). The Dunns sell Savemore the same year.
- 1968: Clifford Dunn Supermarkets begins with Clifford Dunns, Prospect Street, Hull; sold to Gateway Foodmarkets in 1984.

## Main pages
- [The Story](https://savemorestores.co.uk/story/): the full history, chapter by chapter
- [Timeline](https://savemorestores.co.uk/timeline/): key moments 1953–1984
- [Gallery](https://savemorestores.co.uk/gallery/): photographs, documents and adverts with captions
- [Places](https://savemorestores.co.uk/places/): every known store and site
- [Archive](https://savemorestores.co.uk/archive/): the sources: Port of Hull Journal (1965), Guinness Book of Records (1965), obituary (c.1992)
- [The Memory Wall](https://savemorestores.co.uk/memories/): memories from staff and shoppers

## Timeline moments
- [1953 — The Market Stall](https://savemorestores.co.uk/timeline/1953-market-stall/): Three market days a week; two trips to London to buy stock.
- [1958 — The First Shop](https://savemorestores.co.uk/timeline/1958-first-shop/): Savemore Stores opens in Market Place — Hull’s first self-service shop.
- [1960 — George Street](https://savemorestores.co.uk/timeline/1960-george-street/): The old Curzon Cinema becomes a cut-price supermarket.
- [1962 — The Priory](https://savemorestores.co.uk/timeline/1962-priory/): A second cinema converted — the city’s largest supermarket.
- [1963 — The Mellin Group](https://savemorestores.co.uk/timeline/1963-mellin-group/): Savemore joins a national group; Clifford becomes a director.
- [1964 — Anlaby Road](https://savemorestores.co.uk/timeline/1964-anlaby-road/): A variety store selling everything but food.
- [1964 — Friday the 13th](https://savemorestores.co.uk/timeline/1964-friday-13th/): Doncaster opens — deliberately — on Friday 13 November.
- [1965 — A National Record](https://savemorestores.co.uk/timeline/1965-national-record/): Stepney’s Save More: the biggest selling floor of any UK shop.
- [1965 — The Sale](https://savemorestores.co.uk/timeline/1965-the-sale/): The Dunns sell Savemore Stores.
- [1968 — Clifford Dunn Supermarkets](https://savemorestores.co.uk/timeline/1968-clifford-dunn-supermarkets/): Starting again — a new supermarket business, and a Hull landmark.
- [1984 — Retirement](https://savemorestores.co.uk/timeline/1984-retirement/): The store passes to Gateway; Clifford retires.

## Optional
- [About](https://savemorestores.co.uk/about/): who built the archive and how
- [Privacy policy](https://savemorestores.co.uk/privacy/)
- [Security policy](https://savemorestores.co.uk/security/)
- Contact: hello@savemorestores.co.uk