Arding & Hobbs, although now shut down, was one of South London’s largest department stores in its prime. As contractors prepare to renovate the building, the time is right to dive into the building’s rich history, and its perhaps richer future.

 

Although the Arding & Hobbs business was founded in 1876, its flagship Clapham Junction store came into being only in 1884, eight years after the drapery partnership was founded. The original building was extended multiple times to provide more shopping space, as well as more dormitories beyond the three upper floors originally used as residences for shop workers.

 

However, in 1909, 4 days before Christmas, disaster struck. The store caught fire after a lamp exploded and ignited a nearby bed. The roofs were completely destroyed, but some of the main structure was left standing. The fire damaged nearby shops, but barely a year later, the shop was rebuilt in a different style, and reopened for Christmas 1910.

 

The company changed hands many times until the Arding & Hobbs company was finally shut down in 2005 when its owner, the Allders Group, went bankrupt. Since then, most of the building has been owned by Debenhams, while the other half is occupied by a TK Maxx store. 

 

However, due to financial difficulty and then the Covid-19 pandemic, the Debenhams has permanently closed, paving the way for a new age for the old building. W Real Estate, the current owners of the building (purchased from Debenhams in 2018) want to “prioritise re-establishing this Battersea landmark” and “deliver high-quality, contemporary office space at the upper floors to bring new jobs to the area”. 

 

This last statement has surprised some residents of the area, as the building has so far only been used for retail. The proposed refurbishments would leave some space for retail, but on a far lesser scale than in previous times. 

 

In addition to the interior changes, the proposed redesign includes a two-storey extension on the roof in a modern style, which has prompted some response from local residents. One such resident (who has lived in the area for over 10 years) stated that “it doesn’t fit the style of the building”, and expressed some discontent at the removal of most of the retail space.

 

Some people have compared the project to the nearby Battersea Power Station project, whereas others doubt its overall significance. However, whether or not the extension is accepted by Wandsworth Council, this definitely marks a historic chapter for the building and for the surrounding area.