Galeries Lafayette, Regent St, London (early-mid 1900s)

[kob3203]

Some interesting architects photos of Regent Street in 1910 just before the 1910's-20's redevelopment. Of the even numbered buildings shown it says only 180-186 survived the redevelopment.

http://archive.historicengland.org.uk/results/Results.aspx?io=true&l=all&pe=bedford%20lemere&t=advanced&page=1025

Hamleys is there at 200-???, but it's too early for Galeries Lafayette.

From Hamleys history ( http://www.hamleys.com/explore-life-history.irs ) it says they faced hard times in the 1920s and the (Regent Street?) shop closed in 1931, but was back by 1938 with a royal warrant.

I also read somewhere over the last couple of days that the Galeries Lafayette Regent Street store finally closed in 1972, but I can't find the reference for that, so it's just hearsay for now.

[kob3203]

I'm still trying to confirm beyond reasonable doubt that in the late 1960's Hamleys was at perhaps 200-204 Regent Street and Galeries Lafayette was at 188-196. I'm sure that a 1970 London telephone directory, or similar, would be the easiest way to confirm this, but not having access to one...

I've taken another screenshot of that YouTube video at around 47:10, and cut just a portion of it showing just the shop signs that I'm puzzling over. I've annotated it too with my queries.

I assume that there will be no copyright problems with this, and no reason for a moderator to remove it?

This annotated picture makes me chuckle as it puts me in mind of people's annotated and selectively highlighted/sharpened/modified NASA Mars images showing 'clear evidence of life on mars'. I make no such claims here - all my annotations are just educated guesswork, except for the Galeries Lafayette sign which is 100% certain for the reason stated.

[ShaunJ]

Per the 1968 phone book, Galeries Lafayette was at 190 and Hamleys at 200.

[ShaunJ]

According to The Times of  April 17 1973 (page 23), Waring and Gillow moved into the building on Regent Street vacated by Galeries Lafayette.

[ShaunJ]

Hamleys moved to the former Waring& Gillow/Galeries Lafayette premises in Regent Street in 1981 (The Times, September 16th 1981, page 18)

[Gwarden]

My mother worked at Harrods; left there in 1924. On the back of her Harrods employment record is a note saying 'Hamleys 200-02 Regent Street, May 1928' I'm guessing it referred to an employee reference.
However, I do not recall her talking about Hamleys, but she often mentioned Galleries Lafayette.
She left Harrods, according to their record, to join Peter Robinsons. Not sure this helps much

[kob3203]

Twelve and a half years after asking the question I've finally found a photo ! Galleries Lafayette just left of centre, you can't miss it. Photo title "Regent Street, London. Circa 1950 P000151"

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-regent-street-london-circa-1950-p0001511310-20319083.html

[Gadget]

It still brings back happy memories of  London in the 60s

Thanks for the photo link 

[JenB]

Lovely! Happy days.
Hamleys on the extremes left of the photo.