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On this day in 1909 the Arding & Hobbs store in Clapham Junction burned down, killing 8 people.
The store’s been at the heart of a Battersea for more than a century.
Here’s a brief history thread (includes riots, Mr Bean & Santa) >
The store’s been at the heart of a Battersea for more than a century.
Here’s a brief history thread (includes riots, Mr Bean & Santa) >
The firm of Arding and Hobbs started as a drapery shop in Wandsworth High Street in 1867.
They then gambled on the new railway station making Clapham Junction a lucrative location for their flagship store.
The original building was put up in the 1880s (at a cost of £8,000)
They then gambled on the new railway station making Clapham Junction a lucrative location for their flagship store.
The original building was put up in the 1880s (at a cost of £8,000)
Father Christmas is greeted by dozens of excited children outside Arding & Hobbs in 1926.
Photographer Peter Macdiarmid has digitally merged the original photo with a modern one to helpfully show where Santa was:
https://www.nbcnews.com/slideshow/amp/photos-merge-londons-ghosts-christmas-past-56677124
Photographer Peter Macdiarmid has digitally merged the original photo with a modern one to helpfully show where Santa was:
https://www.nbcnews.com/slideshow/amp/photos-merge-londons-ghosts-christmas-past-56677124
Tragedy struck the hugely popular store on on December 20, 1909.
A lightbulb broke, causing a Christmas window display to catch fire
A lightbulb broke, causing a Christmas window display to catch fire
This newspaper report from 1909 describes the scene:
“Hundreds of employees were dressing the windows for Christmas or were busy upstairs and many jumped from the windows.
“Thirty people were taken to hospital but many perished inside”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28143888
“Hundreds of employees were dressing the windows for Christmas or were busy upstairs and many jumped from the windows.
“Thirty people were taken to hospital but many perished inside”
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28143888
A new store - very similar to the original one - was built in 1910 and was opened in time for Christmas shopping
Arding & Hobbs is fondly remembered by generations of Battersea families.
It’s also features in a number of films and TV shows.
My favourite is this Mr Bean episode where he tries to bag a bargain in the New Year sales:
It’s also features in a number of films and TV shows.
My favourite is this Mr Bean episode where he tries to bag a bargain in the New Year sales:
Sadly the store was at the centre of the Clapham Junction riots in 2011.
However, it had a positive role in the riot recovery.
Debenhams gave a home to a burned-out fancy dress shop.
The boards over the windows of TK Maxx were soon covered with messages of love & solidarity
However, it had a positive role in the riot recovery.
Debenhams gave a home to a burned-out fancy dress shop.
The boards over the windows of TK Maxx were soon covered with messages of love & solidarity
So what’s the future of Arding & Hobbs now Debenhams is finished?
Wandsworth Council’s planning committee recently gave permission to a new scheme to renovate the store.
This is how it will look in the years to come...
Wandsworth Council’s planning committee recently gave permission to a new scheme to renovate the store.
This is how it will look in the years to come...
