All of BHS's 163 stores will close by the end of the month after administrators failed to find a buyer for the high street chain.

Here is a timeline of key moments charting the rise and fall of the very British department store.

:: 1928: British Home Stores is set up in a store in Brixton, south London. Nothing costs more than a shilling.

:: 1929: Prices rise to a five shilling maximum as home furnishings are introduced.

:: 1970: Expansion since the Second World War means the brand now has 94 UK stores and around 12,000 workers.

:: 2000: Sir Philip Green buys British Home Stores for £200 million.

:: 2002: BHS becomes part of the Arcadia retail empire after Sir Philip pays £840 million for the clothing chain which includes Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Burton.

:: 2005: The shop is beginning to lose pace as it is pitched against cheaper rivals such Primark.

:: 2014: BHS department stores start selling food with the aim for it to be about 10% cheaper on branded goods than the big four supermarkets which are already involved in a price war.

:: 2014: BHS makes a cash loss of £21 million in the year to August 2014, compared with £19.3 million in the year earlier.

:: 2015: Sir Philip sells BHS to Retail Acquisitions, led by former bankrupt Dominic Chappell, for £1. Work begins on a turnaround plan to try to bring it back into profitability.

:: 2016: The store is thrown a lifeline in March when creditors back two company voluntary arrangements (CVA) designed to cut costs and prevent widespread store closures.

:: 2016: BHS collapses into administration in April, sparking an investigation by MPs into Sir Philip and Mr Chappell.

:: 2016: Administrators fail to find a buyer for the firm and in June decide to wind the company down.

:: 2016: Sir Philip, Mr Chappell and a host of City advisers are hauled before MPs to answer questions over the firm's collapse. Sir Philip promises to "sort" the pensions deficit.

The store in Watford announced it would be closing next Wednesday. The Harrow and St Albans store have not yet announced dates.