John Londei
London images by photographer John Londei
Small shops remembered
Shutting Up Shop - The Decline of the Traditional Small Shop, by photographer John Londei, features beautiful images of that disappearing staple of the retail landscape. And he's been kind enough to let us include a few on London-RIP - so thanks for that, John! All photographs on this page are © John Londei.
On the right is Morrison's Chemist, which was in Leather Lane, ECI. The picture shows the proprietor John Morrison and employees George Cook and Manita Foley. It was taken in 1972.
Below right: C Powells' greengrocer's shop in Foret Hill is pictured with brother and sister Les and Nell Wait in 1983. The shop is now an office.
The next picture shows Phillip Poole, propriertor of His Nibs in
Drury Lane. Phillip died in 1999 at the age of 90. In the late 80s, rising costs had forced Phillip to abandon his premises in Drury Lane, but he ended up renting space at L Cornelissen, the art shop, at its new site in Great Russell Street, where he worked for six years.
RS Hollands, pictured on the right, was a hardware shop in Milner Street in Chels
ea. Reginald Holland was the proprietor and he's pictured here with Jeremy, an employee, and King, the dog. Reginald died in 1997 and and eventually the shop was bought by interior deisigner Nina Campbell who used it as her shop. It's now a letting and management company.
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| Message: | 2/2 |
| Date and time: | 25/01/2008 at 17:09:33 |
| Sender: | Tinymod |
| One of my favourite cafés is Rose & Jacks on Camden High Street (established 1965). It had wooden booths and 60s band photos by David Wedgebury (Decca) on the walls. Only the last few times I've looked the shutters were down (on a Saturday pm). Very worrying. Anyone know if it is still open? Thanks... | |
| Message: | 1/2 |
| Date and time: | 21/01/2008 at 14:57:11 |
| Sender: | Alan Dein |
| Mike - Red Alert!!! Demolition is about to commence on the OLDEST building in the Golders Green conservation area. Yes, times up for the lovely 1906 Valve House (which is now obscured by wooden hoardings). Here is the entry about this lovely building in Barnet Coucil's Golders Green Town Centre Conservation area document written in 1998, and available online through Barnet's website: Valve House. 905-907 Finchley Road. Single storey. Yellow stock and slates with terracotta coloured render. Circa 1906. Late Victorian style. Notable cast iron fencing which can also be seen across the road and to the north of the railway, once lining the narrow strip of Water Company land running down from the Heath Extension. The earliest surviving building in the Conservation Area. I've spoken with Barnet and it's too late, the building (and the surrounding open space) is doomed. And guess what's going to replace it - flats, and obviously expensive ones too. So here goes a lovely little reminder of genteel Edwardiana and in comes more banal property development squeezed between an Estate Agent's (formerly Wiseman's Clothing Store) and the ghastly named Klub Extreme and The Refectory (more like the Defectory). It's a great big shame. I always loved that sweet little building. Cheers, Alan | |
