editor
hiraethified
Any one got any more info on this? Here's what I've posted up:
More: http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2014/07/...-inside-brixtons-bon-marche-department-store/
Brixton’s Bon Marche department store - history and chat
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Any one got any more info on this? Here's what I've posted up:
More: http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2014/07/...-inside-brixtons-bon-marche-department-store/
SikhWarrioR
And the Worms ate into his brain
Looks vaguely like a Schools class "V" {Built to "Restiction O" for use on the Hastings line amongst others later home to Cl 33/2 slim jims} to me And an early 30's date would be in the right direction
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
from the star on the tender rather than full southern livery, i guess some promotion that the southern co-operated with, not just a sr publicity thing.
maybe the store's xmas thing one year?
the southern were (after the appointment of john elliott - possibly the first 'public relations' person in british business) quite forward thinking with publicity.
i have a feeling i have seen this picture before but can't place it.
maybe the store's xmas thing one year?
the southern were (after the appointment of john elliott - possibly the first 'public relations' person in british business) quite forward thinking with publicity.
i have a feeling i have seen this picture before but can't place it.
SikhWarrioR
And the Worms ate into his brain
It looks to close to a "Schools class " in looks and dimensions apart from the wrong profile to the cab and tender sides above the waist line which sloped in to deal with the restiction "O" loading gauge on the Hastings line and the early 1930's date suggests a mock up for the Schools class
cybertect
It's grim up north (London)
I'd go with that. Almost all SR 4-4-0 locos other than the Schools Class had pistons inside the frame rather than outside as in the Bon Marche pic. There were some pre-WW 1 examples, but they look very different.
Possibly it was just easier to build with straight sides in timber.
davesgcr
Reading books
Of course the rather fine Schools Class locomotives were built for the "gauge restricted" Eastern section - Charing Cross / Cannon Street via Sevenoaks etc -Hastings via Tunbridge - as opposed to the main Boat train routes from Victoria via Brixton ......however , a fine example of the last and probably finest development of a Victorian 4-4-0 basic design. It grieves me to say better than the GWR recycling of Dukedogs (much associated with the Cambrian of course) ....
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
extensive research leads me to believe that the last time i saw this picture was a previous time it was posted on urban...
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
I have a copy of John Elliott (Southern Railway's PR man)'s book, but think it's at mum-tat's. I don't recall any mention of this though.
This suggests that Bon Marche was part of Selfridges at the time, and that it was later taken over by John Lewis Partnership. I would expect that both organisations will have an archive - which may or may not have been handed over to a museum / public archive somewhere (I'm aware for example that Sainsburys' archive is now with the Museum of London.) Although commercial organisations vary in their attitudes towards archive material, and a lot of stuff will have been slung out. Or damaged in the blitz / minor disasters.
May be worth digging if you feel like more research on the whole store.
editor
hiraethified
Just posted a piece after I was sent some rare pics of the old arcade being converted into shop space for M&S. It closed in the 50s.
http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2015/01/...-long-lost-bon-marche-arcade-in-brixton-road/
boohoo
No.
Great pictures. The other weekend I went looking for a temperance billiard hall and an old cinema in Streatham's shops but alas, suspended ceilings and fake walls remove any sign of the original use of the buildings. You can see an original Victorian chemist sign in one of the shops though.
editor
hiraethified
Thanks. Once again I got lost in this and spent hours trying to find out more info.
The Morley's Arcade looked amazing! Anyone got any more info?
http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/lambeth/lambeth-assets/galleries/brixton/morleys
lang rabbie
Je ne regrette les gazebos
Lovely little feature.
editor
hiraethified
I've just added a new feature - and found out about the tunnels under Ferndale Road!
http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2015/06/...bon-marche-in-brixton-and-its-secret-tunnels/
http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2015/06/...bon-marche-in-brixton-and-its-secret-tunnels/
boohoo
No.
Ace article. Have you written to the John Lewis archives and ask if they have any photos?
Last edited:
boohoo
No.
Interesting. I wouldn't think they own properties any more - they would have cashed them in to open more branches! They do own four holiday sites - one is on Brownsea island.
My favourite John Lewis story is that the companies founder spent some time in Brixton prison.
editor
hiraethified
I trawled through their online archives but I'd love to learn more about these tunnels.
boohoo
No.
Drop them a mail. I'm sure the archivist would be intrigued too.
Puddy_Tat
naturally fluffy
Still no.
Although this surfaced on Tweeter today
from 'TurnipRail' on twitter
The 'Silver Jubilee' was a named train (not to be confused with a named locomotive) run by the London & N Eastern between London and Newcastle introduced in jubilee year 1935
suggests that railway companies and department stores (and the like) getting together for publicity wasn't unheard of.
i'll see if he knows anything about the Bon Marche 'loco'
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