Farewell then, WH Smith, a company that has adorned our high streets for over a century – even though it never planned to.

Originating as a modest newspaper stand in Mayfair in 1792, the business experienced significant growth in the mid-19th century, driven by the swift expansion of the railways, which enabled consumers across the nation to access London newspapers within hours of their Fleet Street publication.

At one stage, nearly every major railway station in Britain boasted a Smith's stall selling the Times, the Telegraph and the Illustrated London News, among others, along with a selection of the latest books and magazines. It was a profitable venture.

When the head of the company, William Henry Smith, who later became MP for Westminster, passed away in 1891, he left behind a fortune of £1.8m – approximately £200m in today's terms.

However, as the twentieth century dawned, trouble was brewing. The railway companies, keen to extract more revenue from their operations amid shareholder pressure to increase dividends, dramatically raised rents on station stalls.

The management at WH Smith, who had consistently absorbed rising station rents for years, had reached their limit, as reported........

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