Back in the 70's I used to be a despatch rider based in Marylebone Lane W1. I spent a lot of time riding past Selfridges in Oxford Street and was always a little awestruck by the grandeur of the building.
Recently, I decided to research the history of the building and this is what I discovered.
Selfridges - The History
Selfridges opened for business on March 15, 1909 and was the largest department store in London.
Unlike Woolworth's and so many other stores, Selfridges was never a small store that expanded. From Day 1 it was planned as a department store.
The foundations of the building were laid in 1908 and within twelve months the massive building was completed.
Harry Gordon Selfridge had succeeded in his dream of building an American style department store in London.
Selfridge intended shopping at the store to be a recreation and therefore shoppers were greeted with music and browsing was an all day experience.
Women were only just beginning to enjoy walking alone, without the necessary gentleman escorts, and were enjoying their freedom. Selfridges encouraged this freedom by stressing shopping as a fun activity, not work. Customers didn't come to buy what they needed, they came to spend the day. There was a library and a silence room for reflection, comfortable seating and sophisticated restaurants with reasonable prices.
The magnificent building was based on ideas and designs by Gordon Selfridge himself.
The final bill for the building was £400,000.
Gordon Selfridge died in his sleep May 8th 1947. The store left the Selfridge family in 1951 when it was sold to Lord Woolton for £3.4m..
I was disappointed that the history of the building did not match its grandeur. That doesn't stop it being an awe-inspiring building though with a fascinating statue at its entrance of the Queen of Time.
