Simpsons of Piccadilly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Simpsons of Piccadilly |
|
|---|---|
Simpsons of Piccadilly, now the flagship store for Waterstones booksellers.
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Retail Space |
| Location | Piccadilly London, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°30′33″N 0°08′10″W / 51.5092°N 0.1361°W |
| Construction started | April 1935 |
| Completed | April 1936 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Joseph Emberton |
| Main contractor | Alexander Simpson |
Simpsons of Piccadilly was a big shop in central London, on Piccadilly street. It was built by Alexander Simpson and architect Joseph Emberton. When it opened in 1936, it was the biggest men's clothing shop in Britain. Today, it's a special Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important building because of its unique design.
The shop was first made to sell all the clothes from the S. Simpsons company and DAKS. Later, a bookshop chain called Waterstones bought the building. Now, it's their main, or flagship, store.
Contents
A New Shop for London
Alexander Simpson wanted a new shop for his popular DAKS trousers. He wanted a place in central London near Savile Row. This area was famous for high-quality suits. He hoped visitors to Savile Row would also visit his shop.
In 1935, a piece of land on Piccadilly became available. It used to be the Geological Museum. Simpson bought the land. It was a good spot, close to Savile Row.
Building a Modern Store
Simpson wanted to build a large, modern shop for men's clothes. He wanted it to be the main store for his brand. He chose Joseph Emberton as the architect. Emberton was known for his modern building designs. He had also designed parts of a rival shop, Austin Reed.
Amazing Building Design
The building had some cool features. It had big strips of Portland stone and wide windows. A huge glass wall, 90 feet tall, let in lots of natural light. Inside, a giant Travertine marble staircase spiraled up the middle.
One special thing was the curved, non-reflecting windows at street level. These were the first of their kind in Britain! The design was very modern for its time. Simpson wanted the building to show what it was for, without too much fancy decoration. It used new materials like large windows and shiny metal fittings.
Inside the Shop
A famous designer named László Moholy-Nagy helped with the shop's look. He designed the signs and window displays. For the opening, he even put three aircraft on the fifth floor! This was to get people curious and make headlines. Another artist, Ashley Havinden, designed the shop's logos and some carpets.
The shop had many different services. There was a gift shop and even a dog shop! You could also find a barber's shop and a restaurant. The basement still has the old wine vault. Customers could see tailors making clothes. There were also ready-to-wear suits and a sports shop. The lighting and fittings were also very modern. On the fifth floor, there was a balcony with views of Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral.
Clever Building Tricks
The Simpsons building is seen as Emberton's best work. The stone and glass strips on the front look straight, but they are slightly angled. This helps them look cleaner and reflect the colored neon lights better. The building also had hidden air ducts for lighting. It even had its own water supply from a well in the basement.
The shop had huge open floors, which was unusual then. It also had hidden sliding fire doors. A special vacuum cleaning system was built into the walls. The shop was one of the first in Britain to use curved glass windows.
Shop's Later Years
Sadly, Alexander Simpson died in 1937, just a year after the shop opened. But the shop was very successful. Its window displays were famous and a sight to see in London. As planned, a women's clothing section opened a year later.
During Wartime
During the Second World War, Simpsons of Piccadilly helped a lot. It was one of the biggest stores to provide uniforms. It made clothes for soldiers and civilians. The company produced seven million items of clothing! A special club for soldiers was opened on the top floor. They could sleep, bathe, and call their families there.
After the war, when DAKS clothes were sold again, long lines formed outside. Tailors would even measure people in line!
TV Show Inspiration
In the 1950s, a writer named Jeremy Lloyd worked at Simpson. His experiences there later inspired the popular TV show Are You Being Served?
Over the years, the store started selling other famous brands. These included Armani, Mary Quant, and Christian Dior.
Today's Building
Simpsons of Piccadilly continued as a shop until the 1990s. In 1999, the building was sold to Waterstone's bookshops. It is now their main store. On the top floor, there is a bar called 5th View Bar & Food. It has great views over London, including the Houses of Parliament.
The DAKS brand still exists today. It sells men's and women's clothing. DAKS has a special honor called a Royal Warrant. This means they are official suppliers to members of the Royal Family. They have warrants from Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, and The Prince of Wales.
- Powers, Alan; Modern. The Modern Movement in Britain, Merrell, 2005.
