The founders of the Bradford departmental store, John Holmes & Co. (later Busby's), were formerly associated with St. Mary's-in-the-Wood Independent (now URC) chapel, Morley.

John Holmes (1750/51-1810), a clothier in the worsted trade and from 1801 to 1809 a toll farmer on the Leeds & Elland Turnpike, became a local preacher in the Leeds Circuit in 1787.

His son Thomas Holmes I (1789-1862), instead of becoming a draper, was employed before he was 18 as a teacher at James Sigston's Academy, Leeds, probably with the initial intention of entering the WM ministry. He subsequently moved to Bradford, where he opened a shop c. 1824, later diversifying into financial services, including stockbroking and insurance. At 19 he was a Sunday School teacher at the Octagon, Bradford, moving with the society to the Kirkgate chapel in 1811. He was a class leader and a trustee of a number of chapels.

Thomas's son John Holmes II (1820-1892) took over the family business following his father's death and expanded the linen and woollen drapery business into a departmental store which included hosiery, haberdashery and undertaking. Originally connected with Kirkgate chapel, he was largely instrumental in the building of Carlisle Road WM, Manningham in 1859, where he later worshipped. He was a class leader and circuit steward and a representative to the WM Conference. About 1881 W.E. Kirby, a Bridlington Methodist, became a partner (although he may have been connected with the business from as early as 1862).

John Holmes III (d. 1901) took over the business from his father, but retired on health grounds soon after the latter's death. The Kirbys bought the business, which became a limited liability company in 1914, moved to premises in Manningham Lane in 1916 and was sold to Busbys in 1929. The premises, later owned by Debenhams, were destroyed by fire in 1995.

Both Thomas Holmes and John Holmes II were prominent local Tories. Thomas, a member of the Improvement Commission, strongly opposed Bradford's gaining borough status in 1847. John Holmes II was an Overseer of the Poor and a director of the East Morley and Bradford Investment Savings Bank.

Entry written by: DCD
Category: Person
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