Return of Holdrons to Peckham - one week only!

[Louisa]

I found this earlier today and just had to share. An arts event organised by Traces will be taking over part of the old Holdrons Department Store along Rye Lane to recreate the sights sounds and smells of Rye Lane and this famous department store during the 1930s. You can apply for tickets on their website and it is FREE. I am going - you should too!

http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/home-garden/events/traces-rye-lane-peckham

Louisa.

[computedshorty]

I liked the old stores.

[Louisa]

Unfortunately not old enough to remember the department store being open, but my auntie had her wedding dress made there and I always recall walking through the arcades when it was still the Agora market and seeing the old signs for "ladies wear, men's wear and perfumery" still on the wall signs. My grandmother always spoke about going their for afternoon tea in the cafe which was Peckham's answer to a Lyons Corner House.

Louisa.

[computedshorty]

My sister a seemstress worked in the clothing alterations dept, and often altered wedding dresses.

I understand that many needed to be let out at the weaist to allow to fit in the coming weeks.

Rye Lane 1950

[Louisa]

Yes computed, i think the clothing alterations department was a big hit back in those days. People came from miles around to have wedding dresses made at Holdrons. Sadly not many people around today have memories of the store when it was open, we all talk about Jones & Higgins but of course Peckham had numerous famous department stores.

Louisa.

[Huggers]

where exactly is that?

[PeckhamRose]

I reopened one of your pictoral threads on the other page Louisa, apologies and yet - they're fabulous photos.

There are clues to be worked out for the venue, so I do not know if this is to be in where Holdron's was (53 Rye Lane) or not.

I am sure some of the many elderly folk who have been writing letters to the Peckham Society with their memories for the last 134 issues would have loved to have had the chance to go to this, and don't care for current social media to work out clues of its location!

I have tickets to go tomorrow - its first day, but with no idea where this thing is I may just end up walking up and down Rye Lane!

[Louisa]

PR and Huggers, please see the other thread in main section- details provided.

Louisa.

[PeckhamRose]

135a Rye Lane, apparently.

[computedshorty]

Next to Holdrons by the railway arch used to be one of those Lyons Tea rooms, a smaller version of the Corner House Resturants, or a cup of tea from the Mobile Lyon's tea van, on Peckham Rye.

Opposite White Horse Nigel Road.

You could even get a free cup of coffee, look at the top of van.

[computedshorty]

The Building between the two Bridges opposite the station also beolnged to Holdrons, it was used by the NAFFI during the war, as there was large areas behind the building. then owned by C & A.

[PeckhamRose]

By the way folks, you do need a ticket but it is free. Am going today so shall report back.

Computedshorty are you a member of the Peckham Society?

[Broadbean]

Could you tell me how I could get tickets as I couldn't see anything on the link you put up as I would love to take my mum as she remembers Holdrons and I think she worked there at one time .

Thanks

[Louisa]

You'll find tickets on the link here Broadbean.

http://www.traces-london.co.uk/file/Tickets.html

Louisa.

[Broadbean]

Hi

Thanks I now have my tickets .

[PeckhamRose]

I went today.

Everything you see has been recreated so nothing is original or authentic.

The artists have created everything from research. Hats dresses crockery wallpaper tea towels and so on along with prices they researched that it would have cost at the time. A lot of work has gone in to this and it is remarkable.

The only authentic thing is a lovely taped interview with a lady who worked there or remembers it that you hear throughout.

And there will be more of those to come as folk have responded to publicity in The Peckham Society News and are coming to it from various places around to return and share their own memories of working there or visiting it.

Oh, and as we are in Britain they are telling everyone not to take photographs.

They deem it disrespectful for some curious reason.

I would have been proud to have had such beautiful detailed and hard work photographed by admirers!

The whole exhibition is a lovely snapshot of an artistically recreated memory and is beautifully presented.

[PeckhamRose]

I see this has attracted a lot of attention now and has had great reviews. Even though the beautifully dressed 1930s model in all the publicity does not actually appear in the show because, Traces said, "We let the objects act as the performers". Despite this ... it's worth going. It's next to Khans where Holdrons once was.