1953 · The Market Stall
“It was a hard life with three Market Days a week in all weathers … then two journeys to London every week to buy stock and seek out new bargains.”
Port of Hull Journal, January 1965
The timeline · 1953 —
From the stall, light by light.
Select a light to open the moment · drag to travel
- 1953The Market StallThree market days a week; two trips to London to buy stock.
- 1958The First ShopSavemore Stores opens in Market Place — Hull’s first self-service shop.
- 1960George StreetThe old Curzon Cinema becomes a cut-price supermarket.
- 1962The PrioryA second cinema converted — the city’s largest supermarket.
- 1963The Mellin GroupSavemore joins a national group; Clifford becomes a director.
- 1964Anlaby RoadA variety store selling everything but food.
- 1964Friday the 13thDoncaster opens — deliberately — on Friday 13 November.
- 1965A National RecordStepney’s Save More: the biggest selling floor of any UK shop.
- 1965The SaleThe Dunns sell Savemore Stores.Being researched
- 1968Clifford Dunn SupermarketsStarting again — a new supermarket business, and a Hull landmark.Being researched
- 1984RetirementThe store passes to Gateway; Clifford retires.
Each light is a moment in the story. Select one to see what happened — then step inside.
1958 · The First Shop
“He decided to use half of this warehouse as a shop, and so it was that in June 1958 the first of the ‘Savemore Stores’ was opened.”
Port of Hull Journal, January 1965
1960 · George Street
“The first fully cut-price supermarket to be opened in the North of England.”
Port of Hull Journal, January 1965
1962 · The Priory
“The Company spared nothing in enterprise and ingenuity to make this new property a supermarket of the highest modern appeal in design and service.”
Port of Hull Journal, January 1965
1963 · The Mellin Group
“An important milestone in the Savemore story came in November 1963 when the Company became part of the Mellin Group, of which Mr. Dunn is a Director.”
Port of Hull Journal, January 1965
1964 · Anlaby Road
“Practically every household requirement from a packet of hairgrips to a three-piece suite will be found within its doors.”
Port of Hull Journal, January 1965
1964 · Friday the 13th
“One of Mr. C. Dunn’s ambitions has always been to open a store on Friday 13th.”
Port of Hull Journal, January 1965
1965 · A National Record
“The biggest selling area of any shop is the 20,000 square feet of Save More, a discount house in Stepney, London.”
The Guinness Book of Records, 12th edition, October 1965
1965 · The Sale
“In 1965 the Dunns sold up the business.”
Obituary, c.1992
1968 · Clifford Dunn Supermarkets
“His famous cut-price superstore in Prospect Street was a landmark for city shoppers for more than 20 years.”
Obituary, c.1992
1984 · Retirement
“He was a grocer at heart, but he brought a new style of shopping to Hull.”
Ron Lang, Hull Chamber of Trade — obituary, c.1992