STAFF members and customers past and present will gather today (April 22) to mark the 250th birthday of a Taunton department store – one of the oldest in the UK.

Hatchers, in Taunton High Street, was founded as a drapery business in April 1775.

Now, it is a thriving department store and employs more than 40 people selling everything from toasters to toys, washing machines to womenswear.

The store, which has served Tauntonians for generations, stands as a beacon of success amid the continuing trend of fading high streets in Somerset and beyond.

To mark the anniversary, a special event will take place today (April 22), from 10am, with former staff invited to visit and tuck into a specially-made birthday cake.

Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Mohammed Saddiq, will also be present to meet workers and enjoy artefacts from the company’s long history.

A Hatchers store in Fore Street, Taunton, pictured in around 1890

The Somerset-based Hill and Raisey families, who became owners of the store in 1986, can trace their own family roots in Hatchers back to the 60s and early 70s, when members of both families were directors.

Mike Hill and Clive Raisey, who were already shareholders in the company, said taking full ownership was a huge decision at the time, but one that has made them extremely proud.

“Predatory development and investment companies were circling to buy Hatchers at the time,” said Mike. “But we wanted it to stay local. We wanted to keep it as a family business.

“It was a stressful time, for sure, and from that moment on it was a vertical learning curve.”

Clive went on: “We have always looked on Hatchers as being like a family. We did have offers to buy it from us but we wanted to protect it for the future, for all the staff that work there. Some of our staff have spent all of their working life at Hatchers.”

The High Street Hatchers store pictured in around 1900

Mr Hill and Mr Raisey’s own sons – Stephen and Mark – are now directors of the business, taking it into the next generation.

Meanwhile, the family focus continues elsewhere, with Mike’s wife Patricia, son David, daughter-in-law Tracey and granddaughters Emily and Phoebe also involved.

Mark’s wife Vicky, and his children Emily, Toby, Will and Tom, have all spent time in the business too.

“The Hatchers story is really unique in today’s business world,” said Stephen. “What other store can talk of such history? And I am proud to be part owner of the company now.”

Mark added: “It is a fantastic past but I believe we also have a bright future. The people of Taunton – and much further afield – continue to support us.

“We have a fantastically loyal customer base, so we look forward to our 300th birthday.”

Staff and directors of Hatchers in Taunton pictured in 2025

Nelson, Napoleon, Washington and Wellington and other giants of history were alive when Hatchers was born in 1775.

It was the beginning of the American Revolutionary War and George III was on the throne in England.

In the early 60s, a newspaper article spoke of Hatchers as being like a matrimonial agency for its “high quality” female staff, speaking of how “these ladies frequently married well”.

Page boys stood outside the front doors of the store and customers were offered refreshments as they walked in, while ladies were offered wine and gentlemen were taken down to the cellars for beer and cheese.