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House of Fraser are a British department store chain with 26 locations across the United Kingdom, of which the former Hammond's store in Hull, located at no.1 Paragon Square was one. House of Fraser was founded by Hugh Fraser and James Arthur in 1849 as a small drapery shop in Glasgow, trading as Arthur and Fraser. In 1856 the company established a wholesale trade and moved to a larger site in Miller Street, Glasgow trading under the name Arthur & Co.

In 1865 the partnership was dissolved, and Fraser assumed control of the retail business leaving Arthur with the wholesale business. In 1865 McLaren joined the retail business and the name changed to Fraser and McLaren. Hugh Fraser died in 1873 and his three sons acquired a stake in the business. By 1900 Hugh Fraser, son of its founder oversaw the business and incorporated the business as Fraser & Sons Ltd. in 1909. After the purchase and merge of Arnott & Co. Ltd. and Robert Simpson & Sons the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange, now named House of Fraser. Between the 1950s and 1970s House of Fraser made additional purchases, including the Sunderland based Binns group of stores in 1953. During the 1970s the House of Fraser Group acquired more companies, including Hammonds of Hull.

Hammond's of Hull began as a linen and drapery business with a shop at North Bridge, Hull founded by H.W. Hammond's in 1821. A later store was established in the 1860s in Osborne Street. This store occupied one shop, no. 31 Osborne Street but later expanded to include nos. 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41 & 43 Osborne Street. H.W. Hammond died in 1874 and the business was owned by a Mr. Wells. In 1889 William and Henry Powell travelled from Brighouse to Hull to value the business. Their father James Powell had considerable business experience. James had trained in London and Paris and was based in Wakefield and Brighouse combining his drapery business with his professional practice as a valuer. Attracted by the potential of the Hammond's store in Hull, William and Henry Powell bought it.

The name Hammond's became synonymous with Hull and built up a reputation throughout Yorkshire and beyond. Although the business flourished, Osborne Street was out on limb as the centre of Hull was developing. By 1912 the William and Henry Powell were joined by their brother, Samuel. They started their search for land to build a new store. A location was identified which made up almost an acre bounded by Brook Street, West Street, South Street and Jameson Street. The site had the advantage of Paragon Station now fronting Brook Street rather than Anlaby Road.

Hammond's had been a partnership between the brothers, but more finance was needed, a private company was formed to provide the necessary capital for the purchase of land and the building of a new store. Despite the outbreak of war in 1914, the new store, designed by Hull firm, Gelder and Kitchen opened in its doors on 16 October 1916. The Osborne Street premises continued to trade as normal.

On the 7 and 8 May 1941 Hammond's was hit during an air raid. Within the week, 47 departments from Hammond's were re-housed in West Street. William Powell died in 1943 outliving both his brother's, Henry, and Samuel. He was highly regarded in business circles and often referred to as 'Father'. It wasn’t until 1952 that Hammond's reopened, rebuilt on the site of the previous store destroyed in 1941. In 1968 Hammond's made the decision to expand outside of Hull. Two Bridlington stores were purchased. Carlton Ltd. established in 1918 and Harry Davis and Co. Ltd. In early 1969 Carlton's was demolished and work began on the new store. The new Hammond's Bridlington store opened 21 May 1970. Despite being a smaller than the Hull store, it offered similar services.

In 1971 Hammond's celebrated its 150th anniversary. A year later in 1972 the Powell family sold Hammond's to the House of Fraser. It was believed the sale would give Hammond's better buying facilities moving forward. The transfer of the Hammond's into the House of Fraser group was completed in September 1972. John Powell, grandson of James Powell retired as Chairman in February the following year thus bringing an end to the family occupying the office of Chairman. House of Fraser changed the name of the store to Binns. This change of name was somewhat received unenthusiastically. In 1989 the Hammond's name was reinstated. Four years earlier House of Fraser was purchased by the Al Fayed family for £615 million, which included the Hull store. In the late 1990s a number of stores either closed or were sold off. Despite closures which included stores in Leeds, Newcastle, and Sheffield, the Hull store continued.

In 2006 the House of Fraser group confirmed a takeover approach from Highland Group Holdings Limited who acquired the company for £351 million. In 2014 it was reported that House of Fraser would be sold to the Sanpower Group. In September that year the sale was completed. In June 2018 it was announced that 31 of its 58 stores would close, including London’s Oxford Street flagship branch and the store in Hull. In August 2018 House of Fraser entered administration.

The Hull store closed in August 2018 after Sports Direct took over the House of Fraser group. In September 2021 the building was renovated and opened as an artisan food hall on the ground level known as HoH (Hammond's of Hull) Food Hall with rentable office space above. The Food Hall closed in 2023. ResQ moved into the first floor of the building in 2021 and since 2023 also occupy the second floor.

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Includes minute books, accounts and reports, share certificates, share registers, plans, photographs and other items.