Over its 150-year history, the George Henry Lee brand - one of the most famous retail names in Liverpool - has taken many shapes and sizes.

As a family business, it was always held in high esteem by the local community, and would go on to become one of the most exclusive shops in the city.

It began as a bonnet warehouse in 1853 on Basnett Street, on the same site where the department store would later be located.

In 1874, the last of the Lee sons retired and control passed to Thomas Oakshott, who in 1887 became the first tradesman to become Lord Mayor of Liverpool, an appointment which added to the prestige of the enterprise.

A drawing of Henry Boswell Lee's staw bonnet warehouse, 1853

In 1910, the year Thomas Oakshott died, the company had over 1,200 employees and the Basnett Street frontage was rebuilt with elegant Edwardian marble pillars.

During the 1920s George Henry Lee was refurbished - beginning an age of elegance when the store became the north-west's most exclusive shopping destination.

Customers in 1920 would often arrive at the shop by horse and carriage to be met by their own personal shopper.

A series of cubicles served as a fitting room and each assistant – who could use a table and chair outside the fitting room to write out the bill by hand – would serve just one cubicle.

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Even in complex areas such as haberdashery, the atmosphere was spacious and elegant. Sweeping counters added to the graceful appearance of the shop floor, while pillars and light fittings added the finishing touches.

Shortly after the First World War, the Oakshott family sold the shop to the American store owner, H Gordon Selfridge, who in turn sold the business, together with the other 14 stores in his Provincial Stores Group, to the John Lewis Partnership in 1940.

Firewatchers on the roof of either the G H Lee or Bon Marche stores, between 1940-1944

The ethos of the Partnership had always extended past simple working hours, with sports facilities acquired for staff to use, and cricketing, netball, and athletics teams formed.

Meanwhile across the road, a very different department store had developed. Founded in 1878, Bon Marché was modelled on its famous namesake in Paris and featured French fashions, perfumes and accessories.

In May 1945, Bradstones - a sports ground of six acres - was acquired by the John Lewis Partnership

During the 1950s its fortunes declined and, after a brief period of ownership by the Liverpool Co-operative Society, it was acquired in 1961 by the John Lewis Partnership, who decided to merge it with George Henry Lee.

With the name Bon Marche dropped entirely, a bridge was built to connect both stores over three levels.

A team photograph of the G H Lee Bradstones Cricket Club from 1952

Since then, the shop developed its own unique identity, dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of the community it served.

Shopping at George Henry Lee became a family tradition for some, drawn to the expertise of departmental staff, and the highly formal customer service provided, including being lead to the correct department by a "shop walker" immediately upon entry to the shop.

By the late 1980s, George Henry Lee benefited from a resurgence of investment into Liverpool after years of decline.

The famous G H Lee frontage, on the corner of Basnett Street and Church Street, in its 1970s prime

The department store still dominated the city's prime shopping street, and arguably triggered the regeneration of the surrounding area.

While the name was a Liverpool institution, the John Lewis Partnership was, by the early 2000s, instantly recognisable to a nationwide audience.

The George Henry Lee exterior, pictured in 1982

And so the decision was taken to rebrand. On May 27, 2002, the city of Liverpool woke up to find John Lewis Liverpool dominating the city centre.

The workload extended far beyond a simple change of name. Further refurbishment was undertaken, and modern design replaced many of the ageing aspects of the G H Lee decor.

John Lewis in Liverpool ONE as it looks today

In 2003, the Partnership decided to relocate John Lewis Liverpool in line with the city's wider redevelopment, as part of the Liverpool ONE project.

Construction started in 2005, and by 2008 the new shop in South John Street had been opened, where it has remained ever since.