Derry
& Toms Department Store (former), High Street
Kensington, London
Architect
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Bernard George
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Date Built
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1933
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Location
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High Street
Kensington
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Description
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This seven-story department store on
High Street Kensington is home to GAP, H&M
and Marks & Spencer but it was built in the
1930s for the retailers Derry & Toms, a
company founded by brothers-in-law Joseph Toms
and Charles Derry.
It was designed in the popular Art Deco style by
Bernard George, and decorated with metalwork by
Walter Gilbert.
The building featured a fifth-floor restaurant
that offered dinner dances and a rooftop garden
designed by the landscape architect, Ralph
Hancock.
The garden still exists although it is now
owned by Virgin and is only open to the public
on special occasions. The garden's website
gives you a look at this outstanding feature of
the building. "
Located one hundred feet above Kensington
High Street in central London, The Roof
Gardens and Babylon Restaurant are truly
spectacular. Originally above Derry and
Tom's department store which opened in 1933,
The Roof Gardens were the dream child of the
vice president of Barkers, Trevor Bowen, who
employed landscape architect Ralph Hancock
to realise his vision. There are three
themed gardens, with over 70 full size
trees, a flowing stream stocked with fish
and our resident flamingos Bill, Ben, Splosh
and Pecks."
English Heritage awarded the Roof Gardens Grade
II Listed status in 1978.
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