Local News - BBC

[adonirum]

Fascinating item on BBC local news a few minutes ago (not strictly ED) about Rye Lane and Khans Bargains shop having uncovered a vaulted art-deco style ceiling during renovations. Apparently the building used to be a department store called Holdrons back in the 40's/50's. Can't say I ever remember my parents or grandparents mentioning the store. Jones & Higgins, yes, further down (I remember it myself) but never Holdrons. The news item also stated that Rye Lane used to be known as "the Oxford Street of south London" !!

[Jules-and-Boo]

yes I heard it being comparable to Oxford St. (which was a bit more upmarket than it is now, although it's hard to imagine.

Khan's is a bit of an Aladdin's cave and has pretty much everything!

[vicki08]

I don't remember it being called that either, I remember it being called the golden mile.

[KidKruger]

You can see the ceiling at Khans, just walk down the back and look up !

[DulwichFox]

Rye Lane in the 50's

Jones & Higgins.

Walworths.

British Home Stores.

C&A's two of them.

Marks and Spencers.

Littlewoods.

Boots the Chemist.

Peacry's

Lyons Tea Houses.. Two of them. (who remembers the Nippies)

Shoe shops.

Stead and Simpsons.

Lillian Skinner.

Dulces.

Saxon.

Timsons.

Bata.

Many more shops I cannot recall at the mo.

Rye Lane was like the West End. Even in my time.

DulwichFox

[rendelharris]

Blimey that's a lot of shoe shops! Did people have more feet in the olden days?

[Louisa]

I toc can remember Rye Lane before it was left to rack and ruin after the channel tunnel re-route and collapse in property prices.

Holdrons closed down in 1948 so is it any surprise most of us can't remember it? Jones & Higgins was around until much later, possibly mid-80's?

Rye Lane was most famous for tailors when I was a child, the lane had so many of them it was hard to keep track. I also remember the record shops and the old fashioned J Sainsbury counter service shop (now occupied by Clarks shoes).

Louisa.

[intexasatthe moment]

Some pics here

https://www.architecture.com/image-library/RIBApix/gallery-product/poster/holdrons-department-store-and-arcade-rye-lane-peckham-london-the-glass-concrete-roof/posterid/RIBA24510.html

https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2014/02/07/art-in-peckhams-old-holdrons-department-store/

[yeknomyeknom]

The arcade beside is it called Holdrons Arcade. Check out the amazing pancake cafe at the far end of it.

[????]

Louisa Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I toc can remember Rye Lane before it was left to

> rack and ruin after the channel tunnel re-route

> and collapse in property prices.

>

> Holdrons closed down in 1948 so is it any surprise

> most of us can't remember it? Jones & Higgins was

> around until much later, possibly mid-80's?

>

> Rye Lane was most famous for tailors when I was a

> child, the lane had so many of them it was hard to

> keep track. I also remember the record shops and

> the old fashioned J Sainsbury counter service shop

> (now occupied by Clarks shoes).

>

> Louisa.

The parking restrictions also had a big effect (see also Walworth Road)

[flocker spotter]

Can't wait to go down to Khan's and see the art deco ceiling. Well done Mr Khan for investing in the restoration of your buildings superb 20thC features.

[Jennys]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Rye Lane in the 50's

>

> Jones & Higgins.

> Walworths.

> British Home Stores.

> C&A's two of them.

> Marks and Spencers.

> Littlewoods.

> Boots the Chemist.

> Peacry's

>

> Lyons Tea Houses.. Two of them. (who remembers

> the Nippies)

>

> https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/ab/2f/3

> a/ab2f3a2ca7a3507fbe38ebb50facbe2e.jpg

>

> Shoe shops.

>

> Stead and Simpsons.

> Lillian Skinner.

> Dulces.

> Saxon.

> Timsons.

> Bata.

>

> Many more shops I cannot recall at the mo.

>

> Rye Lane was like the West End. Even in my time.

>

> DulwichFox

Lilley and Skinners I think

[DulwichFox]

Arh yes... Lilley and Skinners :)

Foxy.

[apples]

I believe Holdron's was further up, I reckon where Primark is now. The 'RONS' chimney in the industrial park is the only thing left (I think).

[Louisa]

apples Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I believe Holdron's was further up, I reckon where

> Primark is now. The 'RONS' chimney in the

> industrial park is the only thing left (I think).

No, what was Holdrons is now part of Khans Bargains, before the railway bridge. The Bet Fred and Bargain furniture store on the corner of Bournemouth Road can clearly been seen in the picture you've just provided!

Louisa.

[Sue]

Jennys Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> DulwichFox Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Rye Lane in the 50's

> >

> > Jones & Higgins.

> > Walworths.

> > British Home Stores.

> > C&A's two of them.

> > Marks and Spencers.

> > Littlewoods.

> > Boots the Chemist.

> > Peacry's

> >

> > Lyons Tea Houses.. Two of them. (who remembers

> > the Nippies)

> >

> >

> https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/ab/2f/3

> > a/ab2f3a2ca7a3507fbe38ebb50facbe2e.jpg

> >

> > Shoe shops.

> >

> > Stead and Simpsons.

> > Lillian Skinner.

> > Dulces.

> > Saxon.

> > Timsons.

> > Bata.

> >

> > Many more shops I cannot recall at the mo.

> >

> > Rye Lane was like the West End. Even in my

> time.

> >

> > DulwichFox

>

> Lilley and Skinners I think

And Dolcis, Saxone, Timpsons, Woolworth.

I'm as old as you, Foxy :)

I remember buying quite reasonable shoes for 39/11 (ie about ?2) :))

Oh and I remember Lyons Corner Shops, as well :))

[Passiflora]

Where is Khans bargains please? C&A were still there until the early 90s on two big floors where the row of shops before Santander is now and I remember Boots, Saxone, Lilley & Skinner, Dolcis, Boots (somewhere near where Argos is now I think) and Louisa you've just jogged a memory of me and my dear Mum visiting the Sainsburys counter where Clarks shoe shop is now. Remember the record shop.

DulwichFox, I can't remember the name of a shop that was up near the Post Office on rye lane. They had a branch in Walworth Road too that were handy for lots of things like towels, curtains, net curtains. They had a yellow coloured sign. Was that Peacrys?

BHS was where Primark is now.

[Louisa]

Passiflora, the shop near the post office selling curtains and towels I remember was called Pollards? Is that the name you were looking for?

Louisa.

[Passiflora]

Ahh yes thanks, Pollards! Wish they were still around.

[adonirum]

Great post, intexasatthemoment.

DF, I think there was also a shoe shop called Ravels back in the 70's.(even 80's?).

Louisa, the record shop was a branch (or at least associated with) Folletts in L.L. near Goose Green. The "old fashioned J. Sainsbury's counter service shop", was that called David Greig's, like the one on L.L.?

[GSJ57]

My mum remembers Holdrons, she said it was definitely 'Selfridges of the south'. Also Ghinns, the wool and fabric shop, opposite where Marks and Spencer was.

[Vik]

I've seen many pics of Holdrens.

I'm only old enough to remember 80's Rye Lane but the shops I recall are:

WHSmith

Zodiacs toy shop (my fave!)

BHS

Woolworths

M&S

C&A

Broomfields bakers

The huge toy stall in the indooor market

Terry's All Gold (where I got my ears pierced)

Ravels

Stead & Simpson

Clarks

Sainsburys (The newer one where the cinema is now

Currys

Dixon

THE LEB

Safeway

[sally buying]

Burtons the Tailors

Hepworth the tailors

Kennedys

Dunns

[chuff]

Grants Shoes, could never afford them!

[Earl Aelfheah]

Bloomin' degentrification.