Samuel Lees

John Lees was a merchant from Glasgow who had moved to Perth by 1840 when his son Samuel was born. In 1845 John Lees had a tobacco shop at 73 High street, a toy warehouse at 20 George and made combs at 109 High Street. By the time Samuel married in 1862 the company name had been changed to John Lees & Sons and the tobacco store had been closed.

In 1866 Samuel left the family company and set up as hardware merchant at 33 Overgate, Dundee. In 1869 he had opened a second store at 1 Reform Street and was listed as a general merchant, ironmonger and toy merchant. BY 1876 he had taken over 31 to 35 Overgate and moved the second stor to 102 Nethergate. He was also listed as a jeweller and had an extensive property portfolio inclding over 300 dwellings and at least 10 other stores.

Samuel Lees moved the Overgate store to 81 Overgate between 1876 and 1878. In 1884 he is listed as a wholesale and retail general hardware and fancy goods merchant, and importer of French and German goods. The store at 81 Overgate had been expanded 81, 83, and 85 Overgate. He also operated stores at 17 Overgate and 35 Panmure Street.

In 1887 the company name was changed to Samuel Lees & Son with the 17 Overgate store closed. The photograph opoosite was taken around 1900. It shows J Learmonth’s store at 89 Overgate. The store to the right is Samuel Lees' store at 81-85 Overgate. It is from Photopolis

When Samuel died in 1901 his two sons Charles and Henry took over the business, calling it H. A. & C Lees.The store at 81-85 Overgate was closed in 1909. The buildings on the Overgate in Dundee were torn down and replaced by a shopping mall in the 1960s, the Overgate Centre. This was extensively demolished and rebuilt around 2000.

81 Overgate 1876 to 1884
	Source
	Filename	SLeeD.H
	Value	½d
	Add Desc.
	Size (mm)	23
	Manufacture	Brass
	Notes
	Source
	Filename	SLeeD.1
	Value	1d
	Add Desc.
	Size (mm)	29
	Manufacture	Brass
	Notes