We have a £250 Glasswells gift card to give away!
Enter below and answer this question:
Glasswells opened their first shop in which year?
a) 1966 b) 1946 c) 1936
All entries must be received by 5pm on Monday 5th October 2026. All correct answers will be put into a draw and the winner will be notified by Friday 9th October.
Entrants must be over 18 years old. Full competition terms and conditions can be found at www.aboutthetford.co.uk.
Glasswells is marking 80 years since its first shop opened in Bury St Edmunds, growing from a small furniture business into one of East Anglia’s best-known family-run retailers.
The story began in 1946, when Jerry Glasswell and his son Leslie opened a modest shop on Brentgovel Street, selling second-hand furniture. The business entered a town already served by several established stores, but worked hard to build a reputation for personal service, quality products and strong relationships with its customers.
During the 1950s, Glasswells exhibited at local trade fairs and began expanding beyond its original premises. Over the following decades, it opened high street shops across West Suffolk and developed alongside the changing homes and shopping habits of the region.
Today, its branches in Haverhill and Saffron Walden retain the company’s town-centre links, while its larger home department stores in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich bring furniture, flooring, lighting and soft furnishings together under one roof. The business has also expanded into removals, self-storage, interior design and commercial services.
Glasswells remains in the same family and is now led by Managing Director Paul Glasswell, grandson of founder Jerry Glasswell.
“We’ve grown, but we’ve never lost sight of what is important,” said Paul. “Our team goes above and beyond for our customers, that’s the heart of everything we do.”
To mark its anniversary, the company is inviting people to share memories, stories and photographs. These might include childhood visits to a Glasswells store, choosing furniture for a first home, a memorable member of staff or an item that remained in the family for years.
Memories can be shared beneath Glasswells’ “Share Your Memories” posts on Facebook or Instagram at @glasswells.
Win a £250 Glasswells gift card
We have a £250 Glasswells gift card to give away!
Enter below and answer this question:
Glasswells opened their first shop in which year?
a) 1966 b) 1946 c) 1936
All entries must be received by 5pm on Monday 5th October 2026. All correct answers will be put into a draw and the winner will be notified by Friday 9th October.
Entrants must be over 18 years old. Full competition terms and conditions can be found at www.aboutthetford.co.uk.
