A Department Store of the Imagination: New exhibition launched at City Campus

University of Gloucestershire is set to launch two exhibitions at its new City Campus, exploring the history of one of Gloucester’s most iconic buildings.

Marking a moment of transition for the former retail location – now a modern centre of teaching and learning –  the Memories of Debenhams campaign has collected the stories and photographs that connect generations of local people to Debenhams and Bon Marché.

The free Memories of Debenhams exhibition, which runs from 13 March to 27 March, will showcase the artefacts held by Gloucestershire Archives, oral histories, and mementos from members of the community and former Debenhams and Bon Marché employees.

Officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal in January 2026, City Campus is home to the University’s Education, Psychology and Social Work programmes, while also providing shared public access facilities: a public library in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council, and a new Health, Arts and Wellbeing Centre in partnership with the NHS Integrated Care Board.

Maintaining and acknowledging the building’s history has been an integral part of the sympathetic redevelopment to preserve its original character since the University purchased it in 2021. From encounters with the historic past of the site through archaeological finds to personal memories of the iconic department store era, the thread of the community continues in the reinvention of the space and the exhibition.

In response to Memories of Debenhams, historian and illustrator Dr Ed Barret has created Reflected Histories: A Department Store of the Imagination. His work integrates oral histories with archaeological and archival material relating to the new City Campus site to create a group of illustrations based on major themes in the site’s usage across the centuries.

As a key feature of the exhibition – the second phase of the Memories of Debenhams campaign – these speculative images are designed to prompt visitors’ imagination, encouraging them to create their own interpretations and connections with their own memories of Debenhams or ‘The Bon’.

Dr Barret, a University of Gloucestershire graduate, said: “The Memories of Debenhams project celebrates the legacy of the site as a heart of the community in Gloucester. It’s a really enjoyable project and I feel like I’ve learnt a lot about this fascinating aspect of Gloucester’s history. 

“For my contribution to the project, I created four illustrations integrating oral histories collected by my colleagues, with archaeological and archival materials related to the site’s histories.

“The exhibition also includes my notes and workings-out, demonstrating the use of drawing as a research method, and viewers will also have the chance to see selected parts of the original Memories of Debenhams exhibition.”

Clair Greenaway, Academic Course Leader for BA (Hons) Business and Management (Events Management), said: “So many members of our community have memories of the building in its department store days, whether that’s visiting Father Christmas, having tea with grandparents at the weekend, meeting friends or working here.

“We wanted to capture these stories and memories to acknowledge that this is more than a building – it’s part of the DNA of the city.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors to the Memories of Debenhams exhibition and Reflected Histories exhibitions and share in a celebration of City Campus’ wonderful history and its fantastic future at the heart of Gloucester.”

Images: Two of the illustrations by Dr Ed Barret featuring at the Reflected Histories: A Department Store of the Imagination exhibition at City Campus