In April 1963, H. L. Griffin & Co and H.E. Williams & Co merged to form a combined enterprise employing 110 people.
The Griffin premises were soon sold (within two years), and the output merged to create a single department store.
Other acquisitions included A. & E.P. Baker in 1964 (a local ladies fashion store) and Heasman & Son (a jewellers on the High Street founded before 1907).

In 1966, the Griffin family sold out - their representative on the board, Jack Griffin, wished to retire due to ill health, and his sons wanted to go their own separate ways.
The majority shareholding  was therefore taken up by the Ireland family, and in 1969 the final vestige of the previous businesses – Williams' Cowdray Avenue farm machinery sideline – was sold to Eastern Tractors after two years' worth of discussions, though the Ireland family kept ownership of the site.
At this time, Williams & Griffin's turnover was valued at £400,000.
In 1981, however, the decision was reversed and Williams & Griffin opened a garden centre on the site under the guidance of Patrick Ireland, which ran until 1990, when the site was finally sold off.

In 2007, Williams & Griffin won "Best Independent Department Store of the Year", sponsored by Drapers.
The award was picked up by Colchester's MP, Bob Russell, who proposed an early day motion on the topic.

It remained in the control of the Ireland family until its sale in March 2008 to the Fenwick chain of department stores.
Current departments include fashion, toys, gifts, housewares and furniture, as well as a top-floor restaurant.
In 2015, it announced that, following a major redevelopment of its site, it would rebrand under the new Fenwick name, becoming Fenwick Colchester.
In April 1963, H. L. Griffin & Co and H.E. Williams & Co merged to form a combined enterprise employing 110 people. The Griffin premises were soon sold (within two years), and the output merged to create a single department store. Other acquisitions included A. & E.P. Baker in 1964 (a local ladies fashion store) and Heasman & Son (a jewellers on the High Street founded before 1907).
In 1966, the Griffin family sold out - their representative on the board, Jack Griffin, wished to retire due to ill health, and his sons wanted to go their own separate ways. The majority shareholding  was therefore taken up by the Ireland family, and in 1969 the final vestige of the previous businesses – Williams' Cowdray Avenue farm machinery sideline – was sold to Eastern Tractors after two years' worth of discussions, though the Ireland family kept ownership of the site. At this time, Williams & Griffin's turnover was valued at £400,000. In 1981, however, the decision was reversed and Williams & Griffin opened a garden centre on the site under the guidance of Patrick Ireland, which ran until 1990, when the site was finally sold off.
In 2007, Williams & Griffin won "Best Independent Department Store of the Year", sponsored by Drapers. The award was picked up by Colchester's MP, Bob Russell, who proposed an early day motion on the topic.
It remained in the control of the Ireland family until its sale in March 2008 to the Fenwick chain of department stores. Current departments include fashion, toys, gifts, housewares and furniture, as well as a top-floor restaurant. In 2015, it announced that, following a major redevelopment of its site, it would rebrand under the new Fenwick name, becoming Fenwick Colchester.
Fenwick Colchester