Harrods on a Winter Morning. Architects: Stevens and White. 1897-1905. Brompton Road, London. Photograph 2005 George P. Landow. [You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]
Although they are less architecturally and technically adventurous than their continental equivalents of the same period — Samaritaine in Paris and Messel's Wertheim store in Berlin — the London department stores are impressive for their sheer size and Edwardian splendour. From its modest beginnings in 1849 as a small grocer's shop, Harrods expanded vigorously to become the largest store in Europe. It now occupies a whole city block of 1.8 ha. (4.5 acres) with over 5.5 ha. (13.5 acres) of sales space on its five floors, the 214 departments and staff of 4000 seeming to justify the store's motto omnia, omnibus, ubique (Everything for everyone, everywhere). — Jones and Woodard, 187
Harrods decorated with Christmas Lights and Harrods and Brompton Road.
Related material
References
Dixon, Roger, and Stefan Muthesius. Victorian Architecture. 2rd ed. London: Thames & Hudson, 1985.
Jones, Edward, and Christopher Woodward. A Guide to the Architecture of London. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1992.
Last modified 21 April 2013