Leekes
| Private company | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1897 |
| Headquarters | Talbot Green |
| Website | leekes.co.uk |
Leekes is a Welsh based retailer, with seven stores based in South Wales, South West England and The Midlands.
The company was established by James Henry Leeke in the Rhondda in 1897. He started trading as a traditional builder's merchant selling ironmongery and hardware from the front room of the family home in a small terraced house in Clydach Vale.
Since then Leekes has expanded with a Home Improvements Centre based in Tonypandy opening in the mid-1960s, and department stores opening in Talbot Green (1977), Cross Hands (1984), Melksham (1992), Bedworth (2010), Fenton (2010) Bilston (2011) and Coventry, West Midlands (2012) The company also owns the Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort, and Hensol Castle.
James Henry Leeke established Leekes as a blacksmith in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valley, Wales in 1897. James Leeke initially operated a smithy for sharpening tools at the rear of the house and then opened a small ironmongery business in the front room.
The Leekes business survived the following two decades intact and James’ son Llewellyn took over the business from his father in 1933 at the age of 22. In 1948 Llewellyn bought a larger shop in Dunraven street, Tonypandy which is still trading today. At this time the ironmonger and builders merchant was operated almost entirely by the family.
In the late 60s Llewellyn’s son Gerald joined the business full-time and extended the range at Dunraven street and established kitchen and bathrooms displays. They took over the shop next door for an additional showroom. In 1965 the company turnover had reached £38,000 and the old goods yard station in Trealaw, Rhondda was acquired for expansion, combining the retail premises and builders yard with some car parking.
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