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

[kob3203]

Seeing the responses to the recent posting about the Café Royale, I thought I'd try my luck with this one.

I've already discovered that there was indeed such a place (Hamleys now stands on the site). However, it appears to be totally unrelated to the Parisian department store. Maybe somebody trying to cash in on the name?
Do any of the older Londoners on this board remember the place (it was still around in the 1960's I believe), or know anything about it?

My interest? There's a story that a great grandfather was born on Regent Street "at the site where the Galeries Lafayette later stood".
Pete

[ShaunJ]

It's in the phone books from 1927 to 1966 or thereabouts, at 190 Regent Street.

I don't know if there was any renumbering but 190 was part of Swears and Wells in 1905.

In 1880 the occupier was Alfred Townend, Hat Manufacturer. Swears and Wells was next door at 192. I can look up more directories ,,, but what name and approx date are you looking for?

[Gadget]

Hi

There certainly was such a place - at least until the mid 1960s.

I bought a gorgeous dress from there and some ladies underwear 


I think it was on the curve of Regent Street - on the East side towards the bottom end.  Memory plays tricks though. It was a lovely store.



Gadget

[Springbok]

They had the "New Look " range around 1947 .

I bought a fine wool skirt. Dark red , very full and flared ,Great for dances and parties.

Took quite a few clothes coupons, and I had it for years.

Spring

[JenB]

I well remember going to the Galeries Lafayette in the early 60's - it was near Hamleys, i.e. as Gadget has said, on the east side of Regent Street. I have the vague impression that a lot of the staff were French. It was a lovely shop.

Jennifer

[kob3203]

Thanks ShaunJ,

I should have mentioned that I did a lot of (mostly internet-based) research and found no evidence to support the story of my great grandfather's Regent Street birth.

The story is that he (Edmund Browne) was born (c1860) in Regent Street "on the site where the Galeries Lafayette later stood", but that his family returned to Ireland soon after he was born.
We've now found birth/baptism records for siblings from 1867 onwards in Co Tipperary and are assuming that his birth wasn't registered in England, and that he was baptised in Ireland.

The story may still be true, but I don't think we'll find any documentary evidence.

Pete

P.S. I was in the UK in Jun/Jul this year, and checked the original London Directories for 1861-1864 at the TNA. The block covering 172-206 Regent Street was between Chapel Court and Foubert's Place. Hamleys is now at 188-196, in the block between Foubert's Place and Tenison Court. The numbering seems to have stayed the same. (Foolishly I didn't look at the 1920s-1960s directories to confirm the exact location of the Galeries Lafayette!).

This contradicts Gadget's recollection that it was "...on the curve of Regent Street - on the East side towards the bottom end...". Is it possible that they had two shops on Regent Street?

[Gadget]

This contradicts Gadget's recollection that it was "...on the curve of Regent Street - on the East side towards the bottom end...". Is it possible that they had two shops on Regent Street?

Well it was certainly on the East side and memory recalls a longish walk from Oxford Circus tube and possibly picking up Piccadilly for the return journey 

[JenB]

This contradicts Gadget's recollection that it was "...on the curve of Regent Street - on the East side towards the bottom end...".

It contradicts my memory of its location as well.

as Gadget has said, on the east side of Regent Street.

In the 1960's it was definitely on the east side of Regent Street, and certainly lay between Hamleys and Piccadilly Circus. I would say it was nearer Piccadilly Circus than Oxford Circus.

Jennifer

[Gadget]

Hi Jennifer

Glad you agree with me - I didn't think I was suffering from memory loss just yet. 

I recall there were arches or a slight covered part along the frontage as well.


Gadget