| The Jarrold Group | |
| Logo Upright: | 1 |
| Logo Alt: | Jarrolds store, Norwich |
| Type: | Privately held company |
| Founder: | John Jarrold (1745–75) |
| Num Employees: | over 450 |
| Subsid: | Jarrold Properties; Jarrold Retail; Jarrold Training; St James Facility Management |
| Foundation: | 1770 |
| Location: | Norwich, England |
| Homepage: | jarrold.com |
The Jarrold Group is a Norwich–based company, founded as Jarrold & Sons Ltd, in 1770, by John Jarrold, at Woodbridge, Suffolk,[1] before relocating to Norfolk in 1823. The Jarrold Group still involves members of the Jarrold family.[2]
Of Huguenot ancestry, the Jerauld family arrived in Essex from France in the late 17th century. Samuel Jarrold served as Mayor of Colchester for 1723/24 and during the 18th century the Jarrolds expanded their mercantile ventures throughout East Anglia, becoming established in Norwich.[3]
The family maintains its record of civic service until the present day: (Herbert) John Jarrold CBE[4] was elected Lord Mayor of Norwich for 1971/72, Peter Jarrold DL (father of Julian, the film director) as Sheriff of Norwich for 1999/2000,[5] and since 2018[6] Caroline Jarrold DL[7] serves as a Deputy Lieutenant for Norfolk.[8] The Jarrold family also participates in the civic life of the City of London as members of the Haberdashers' and Stationers' Companies.
Primarily a retail business, Jarrolds department store in Norwich city centre, was designed by George John Skipper between 1903 and 1905. Sir Nikolaus Pevsner describes the Jarrolds store as "baroque" in style. Jarrolds have several shops in Norwich, as well as in Wymondham and Cromer.[9]
Non-retail divisions of the Jarrold Group of Companies include Jarrold Properties, Jarrold Training, and St James Facility Management.
Jarrolds sponsored the construction of a new stand at Norwich City F.C.'s Carrow Road football ground; known as The Jarrold Stand, the original sponsorship deal ceased in 2016.[10]
John Jarrold Jr. diversified the firm into publishing as early as 1823[11] and in 1877 it published the first edition of the children's classic, Anna Sewell's Black Beauty.[12]
In 1936 the firm launched the Jarrolds' Jackdaw Library paperback book series[13] and in 1939 the Jackdaw Crime Series.[14] The family's activities previously also included Jarrold Publishing and Jarrold Printing.[15]