Sign inFairgrieve, c. 1926
This image was taken at the junction of High Holborn and Southampton Row near the present-day Holborn underground station in London. The policeman standing in the road is on ‘point duty’; note the nature and quantity of the traffic he is directing. Nowadays the traffic at this junction is very busy.
The large shop is typical for the 1920s: it is on a corner and has separate entrances for different departments. Often each department would sell specific goods under the ownership of one firm. The large windows have blinds, which protect the goods on display from the bright sunlight.
Student focus
- Use Google Maps to locate the junction, then access Street View to find the building in the image. Which architectural clues did you use?
- Describe the main advantages for locating a shop on a corner. What evidence is there that the 1926 shop has only one floor of retail space? Carry out an internet search to discover more about what might have been sold here.
- List six changes that have taken place in retail in towns and cities since 1926. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each one?
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