{"id":8244,"date":"2018-04-16T09:37:23","date_gmt":"2018-04-16T08:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.heals.com\/blog\/?p=8244"},"modified":"2018-08-07T12:23:10","modified_gmt":"2018-08-07T11:23:10","slug":"heals-200-tottenham-court-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heals.com\/blog\/heals-200-tottenham-court-road\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Centuries of Heal’s on Tottenham Court Road"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Heals-Edward-Maufe\"

The Heal’s Building after Edward Maufe’s extension in 1937<\/p><\/div>\n

We\u2019re telling the tale of our flagship store, an iconic building that is recognised the world over. However, what is lesser known is that Heal\u2019s has been a feature of the Tottenham Court Road landscape for a staggering 200 years. Here\u2019s the story of how our reign came to be.<\/p>\n

–<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n

Humble Beginnings<\/h2>\n

The year is 1810. Beethoven has composed Fur Elis and Jane Austen is putting the finishing touches on her first novel, Sense & Sensibility. Meanwhile, John Harris Heal decides to establish Heal & Son, a feather-dressing business that brings French-style feather-filled mattresses\u00a0to the masses. A short while later in 1818, John Harris Heal relocates his feather-dressing business from its original location on Rathbone Place to 203 Tottenham Court Road, marking the beginning of an epic 200-year journey of retail and design on Tottenham Court Road.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Heals-Building-1854\"

The Heal’s Building 1854<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

In contrast to the bustling, metropolitan place that it is today, the site was a primarily rural location and the lease even stipulated there must be appropriate accommodation for 40 cows. After John\u2019s death in 1833, his widow, Fanny Heal, preserved with the family business, renamed the firm Fanny Heal & Son, Bedding Manufacturers, and moved the premises in 1840 to the current site at 196 Tottenham Court Road.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A New Era<\/h2>\n

After a period of substantial growth, Heal\u2019s needed more retail and workshop space. In 1854, architect James Morant Lockyer \u2013 an authority on the Italian Renaissance period \u2013 designed a new building in Venetian Palazzo style to incorporate 186-198 Tottenham Court Road. The new Heal\u2019s shop became one of the largest in London.<\/p>\n

\"heals-building-1916\"

The Heal’s Building 1916<\/p><\/div>\n

Since then the building has continued to evolve. In 1916, the original building was demolished to make way for a modern store for modern times. Cecil Brewer, Ambrose Heal\u2019s cousin and best friend, was tasked with designing the new flagship. He also installed the iconic Cecil Brewer staircase, now known as the most photographed staircase in London, which spirals up through the back of the store.<\/p>\n

A few years later in 1937, architect Sir Edward Maufe added an impressive southern extension which included a multi-storey Lenscrete vertical window, inspired by his design for Guildford Cathedral.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\"Heals-200-poster\"

An original advertising illustration from 1937 showing transport links to the store following its extension designed by Edward Maufe.<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

An Ever-Evolving Building<\/h2>\n

Ever since, Heal\u2019s has continued to house some of the world\u2019s most famous designers and furniture brands, cementing itself as a British retail institution. Our heritage is displayed proudly on the store front, with a series of blue and gold plaques that highlight the crafts through which Heal’s has made its name \u2014 metalwork, pottery, bedding makers, to name a few.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve become an enduring presence on London\u2019s \u2018Furniture Street\u2019 and while we are joined by a number of other prestigious retailers, no one\u2019s roots are buried as deep as ours. Heal’s has witnessed the reign of seven monarchs, three turns of the century, and two world wars.<\/p>\n

\"Heals-World-War-2\"

The Heal’s building being used to make parachutes during the Second World War<\/p><\/div>\n

In fact, the Heal\u2019s building played a vital role in the World War II<\/span><\/a>. As historian James Taylor explains, \u201cA dramatic rise in consumer expenditure was interrupted by the Second World War. Heal\u2019s, like so many companies, turned from the manufacture of goods for civilian consumption in peacetime to producing the military equipment needed in a war for Britain\u2019s survival.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Workshops on the upper floors were used by machinists for making parachutes for the Ministry of Aircraft Production.\u00a0By the summer of 1940, space was so tight that the operation spread beyond the workshops into the showrooms, with more sewing machines set up to cope with the demand.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Next 200 Years<\/h2>\n
\"Heals-Tottenham-Court-Road\"

The Heal’s Building today<\/p><\/div>\n

Over the last two centuries, the landscape of London has changed drastically yet the presence of Heal\u2019s has remained constant. We\u2019ve welcomed millions of people from all over the world through our doors and, with plans for Tottenham Court Road to become increasingly pedestrianized, we plan to welcome millions more over the next 200 years.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re telling the tale of our flagship store, an iconic building that is recognised the world over. However, what is lesser known is that Heal\u2019s has been a feature of the Tottenham Court Road landscape for a staggering 200 years. 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