It is hard to imagine what our high streets would look like without Primark. You have probably walked past one of the retailer’s stores countless times when taking a trip down to town.
But prior to this date (26 September) in 1974 our ancestors had to make do without grabbing a bargain from Primark. The retail giant opened the doors to its first store in the UK on this day 50 years ago.
Have you ever wondered where the first Primark stores were in this country? To mark its 50th anniversary in Britain, the company has revealed to us the list of its first 10 UK stores and when they opened. We have also compared how prices have changed (or not) on items at Primark since 1974.
Can you remember any of these old Primark stores - did you ever visit them? Are you surprised by the areas the giant opted to open in first?
1. First Primark stores in the UK
Primark has turned 50 in the UK and these are the first stores it opened in Britain. Generic picture of a Primark store. Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images | Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
2. Derby, 1974
The first store in the UK that Primark opened was in Derby on 26 September 1974 - half a century ago. Pictured is the store back in the 1970s. Photo: Primark | Primark Photo: Primark
3. Bristol, 1974
The second store Primark opened in the UK was in Bristol also in 1974, not long after the first shop in Derby opened. Picture of a generic Primark shop. Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images | Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
4. Northampton, 1975
The third UK store Primark opened was in Northampton. It threw open its doors in 1975. Picture is a generic image of a Primark shop. Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images | Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
5. Hamilton, 1975
Primark continued its expansion across the UK in 1975 by opening a store in Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. Picture is a generic image of a Primark shop. Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images | Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
6. Newport, 1976
The next site for a Primark store in the UK was its first shop in Wales. The store in Newport opened in 1976. Picture is a generic image of a Primark shop. Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images | Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images