Stock Photo - Marks & Spencer Ltd, Stratford, London, 1910. Open-fronted shop in London's East End. In 1894 Thomas Spencer (1851-1905) joined Russian-born Polish refugee Michael Marks (1859-1907) to form the partnership of Marks & Spencer. The first Marks and Spencer shop opened in Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester in the same year. By the turn of the 20th century there were 12 shops and 24 covered market stalls around the country including Cardiff, Leeds, Bath and branches in London. In 1903 the partnership of Marks and Spencer was made a private company, with Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer as directors. In the same year there were more than 60 branches throughout the country. The penny price disappeared around 1914; 6d (2 1/2 p) and 1/- (5p) became popular prices.