Drapery Trust

Drapery Trust was formed in 1925 by Clarence Hatry, a notorious British Financier. He had made his fortune in speculating on oil stocks, and had convinced investors to promote department stores and bring them under the management of a retail conglomerate.
The business grew with a number of acquisitions – 
The business was acquired by Debenhams in 1927.
The business was kept as a separate subsidiary from the main Debenhams group, but with board members of Debenhams joining the board of the trust. At the time it was reported that Drapery Trust controlled 60 stores of department and specialist kind. The Drages business was sold in 1937 to Great Universal Stores.
In the 1970s it was decided to bring all the business under one brand, and so the stores of the Drapery Trust were either converted into Debenhams, or were closed.