Posted: 2008-10-16 13:51:21
Under Oxford Street
All In London Forum
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mistakenplane
Lazy :P
Doolally_w7
Back in the late 1980's I worked in Debenhams, on Oxford Street. The basement has a lot of old tunnels dating back to the previous buildings, on the site. Most of these tunnels went off the back of the store, crossing Henrietta Place, through Wimpole Street and then ending up at a dead end underneath the NCP Car Park. The reason to mention this is that this NCP and Debenhams are around 30 yards from where Lilley & Skinner were. Incidentally, Lilleys was the biggest shoe shop in Europe, in the 60's-80's
Posted: 2008-10-21 00:23:04
All In London
ORIGINAL: Doolally_w7
Back in the late 1980's I worked in Debenhams, on Oxford Street. The basement has a lot of old tunnels dating back to the previous buildings, on the site. Most of these tunnels went off the back of the store, crossing Henrietta Place, through Wimpole Street and then ending up at a dead end underneath the NCP Car Park. The reason to mention this is that this NCP and Debenhams are around 30 yards from where Lilley & Skinner were. Incidentally, Lilleys was the biggest shoe shop in Europe, in the 60's-80's
Back in the late 1980's I worked in Debenhams, on Oxford Street. The basement has a lot of old tunnels dating back to the previous buildings, on the site. Most of these tunnels went off the back of the store, crossing Henrietta Place, through Wimpole Street and then ending up at a dead end underneath the NCP Car Park. The reason to mention this is that this NCP and Debenhams are around 30 yards from where Lilley & Skinner were. Incidentally, Lilleys was the biggest shoe shop in Europe, in the 60's-80's
Welcome Doolally_w7 :wave:
Thanks for your contribution, it's great to have some insider knowledge.
So do you know anything about the old shopping street that's supposed to be down there?
AIL Staff
Posted: 2008-10-21 11:44:00
ianmac
Welcome indeed!
Lilley & Skinner certainly ties in with the outcome of the radio broadcast of a few weeks ago. This definitely corroborates that.
The national archives makes reference to building works for Lilley & Skinner in or around 1921 and gives us building numbers to go on too - if it still exists it is in the vicinity of 356-360 Oxford Street - see below for national archives references which make reference to 'Sentry Boxes' :-
Stratford Place (No 21) COL/SVD/PL/01/2786 1915 - 1921
Contents:
Photographs (2) prior to the reconstruction of nos. 356-360 Oxford Street and no. 21 Stratford Place. 11" x 9¼" approx. 1915
Plans and elevations of sentry boxes as existing and as proposed following rebuilding. Scale 1/24. A. Sykes, arch. Mar 1916
Rebuilding - basement, ground, first to fourth floor plans, elevations and sections. Scale 1/96. A. Sykes, arch. Jan 1917.
Rebuilding - specification of works. Oct 1917
Rebuilding - revised plans - basement, ground, first to fourth floor plans, elevations and sections. Scale 1/96. A. Sykes, arch. Mar & May 1920. Endorsed 'Approved by Committee 14 Dec 1921
Rebuilding for Messrs. Lilley & Skinner
Rebuilding - revised plans [blueprints] - basement, ground, first to fourth floor plans, with amendments. Scale 1/96. A. Sykes, arch. May 1920.
Amended drawing - third floor, roof plan and section. Scale 1/96. A. Sykes, arch. Mar 1921.
Outer cover of all plans endorsed 'sold'
Further on there is also another reference to the same building:
Oxford Street (Nos 356-360, even) / Stratford Place (No 21) COL/SVD/PL/01/2786 1914 - 1921
Contents:
Rebuilding for Messrs. Lilley and Skinner.
Oxford Street (Nos 356-360, even) / Stratford Place (W side) COL/SVD/PL/01/2786 1915
11 x 9¼ approx.
Contents:
Photographs (2) prior to the reconstruction of nos. 356-360 Oxford Street and no. 21 Stratford Place.
Lilley & Skinner certainly ties in with the outcome of the radio broadcast of a few weeks ago. This definitely corroborates that.
The national archives makes reference to building works for Lilley & Skinner in or around 1921 and gives us building numbers to go on too - if it still exists it is in the vicinity of 356-360 Oxford Street - see below for national archives references which make reference to 'Sentry Boxes' :-
Stratford Place (No 21) COL/SVD/PL/01/2786 1915 - 1921
Contents:
Photographs (2) prior to the reconstruction of nos. 356-360 Oxford Street and no. 21 Stratford Place. 11" x 9¼" approx. 1915
Plans and elevations of sentry boxes as existing and as proposed following rebuilding. Scale 1/24. A. Sykes, arch. Mar 1916
Rebuilding - basement, ground, first to fourth floor plans, elevations and sections. Scale 1/96. A. Sykes, arch. Jan 1917.
Rebuilding - specification of works. Oct 1917
Rebuilding - revised plans - basement, ground, first to fourth floor plans, elevations and sections. Scale 1/96. A. Sykes, arch. Mar & May 1920. Endorsed 'Approved by Committee 14 Dec 1921
Rebuilding for Messrs. Lilley & Skinner
Rebuilding - revised plans [blueprints] - basement, ground, first to fourth floor plans, with amendments. Scale 1/96. A. Sykes, arch. May 1920.
Amended drawing - third floor, roof plan and section. Scale 1/96. A. Sykes, arch. Mar 1921.
Outer cover of all plans endorsed 'sold'
Further on there is also another reference to the same building:
Oxford Street (Nos 356-360, even) / Stratford Place (No 21) COL/SVD/PL/01/2786 1914 - 1921
Contents:
Rebuilding for Messrs. Lilley and Skinner.
Oxford Street (Nos 356-360, even) / Stratford Place (W side) COL/SVD/PL/01/2786 1915
11 x 9¼ approx.
Contents:
Photographs (2) prior to the reconstruction of nos. 356-360 Oxford Street and no. 21 Stratford Place.
Posted: 2008-10-21 16:55:22
ianmac
Taken from the website of Greig + Stephenson Architects - if anything is/was under the old Lilley & Skinner building these guys would know...
The world's most famous record store, HMV's original store at 363 Oxford Street, near Bond Street tube station, is about to move house. The oldest 'His Master's Voice' store was opened by Sir Edward Elgar on 20 July 1921 - the first known instance of a celebrity store opening. Its official title at the time of its launch was the rather unwieldy 'HMV Headquarters of British Sales and Zonophones at 363 Oxford Street'. To make a purchase, customers would make appointments and be received in viewing salons by the Manager, where they would listen to new releases and view the latest gramophones. Purchases were charged to accounts and despatched separately to customers anywhere in the world.
The store was heralded in its day as 'the most up-to-date and artistic business house yet seen in London'. It will close on 29 April 2000 and will be replaced on 18 May by a new Oxford Street store over the road at number 360, on the site of the former Lilley & Skinner store, which aims to replicate that aspiration for the new millennium.
The new store, designed by Greig + Stephenson Architects (GSA) will be 33,000 square feet over three storeys, making it HMV's second flagship store on the world's most famous shopping street.
The new store will occupy three storeys of a listed building with a storefront on Oxford Street and the side of the store along Stratford Place, which HMV first acquired in October 1997, just a week after the £5 million refurbishment of its other flagship store was completed.
After receiving planning permission for the scheme in February 1999, the interior of the building was completely gutted by the landlord's architects Carey Jones, to prepare the site for the new tenant.
The world's most famous record store, HMV's original store at 363 Oxford Street, near Bond Street tube station, is about to move house. The oldest 'His Master's Voice' store was opened by Sir Edward Elgar on 20 July 1921 - the first known instance of a celebrity store opening. Its official title at the time of its launch was the rather unwieldy 'HMV Headquarters of British Sales and Zonophones at 363 Oxford Street'. To make a purchase, customers would make appointments and be received in viewing salons by the Manager, where they would listen to new releases and view the latest gramophones. Purchases were charged to accounts and despatched separately to customers anywhere in the world.
The store was heralded in its day as 'the most up-to-date and artistic business house yet seen in London'. It will close on 29 April 2000 and will be replaced on 18 May by a new Oxford Street store over the road at number 360, on the site of the former Lilley & Skinner store, which aims to replicate that aspiration for the new millennium.
The new store, designed by Greig + Stephenson Architects (GSA) will be 33,000 square feet over three storeys, making it HMV's second flagship store on the world's most famous shopping street.
The new store will occupy three storeys of a listed building with a storefront on Oxford Street and the side of the store along Stratford Place, which HMV first acquired in October 1997, just a week after the £5 million refurbishment of its other flagship store was completed.
After receiving planning permission for the scheme in February 1999, the interior of the building was completely gutted by the landlord's architects Carey Jones, to prepare the site for the new tenant.
Posted: 2008-10-21 17:37:10
giacomof
This is awesome can you imagine oxford street covered in cobble stone?
Posted: 2008-11-06 15:25:11
Adam_AWD
This thread is gripping!
Wasn't there talk of building a tram line along Oxford Street? Well, they could run it along the hidden underground street,if it exists! Maybe someone at TFL could put some money into researching this for us?
Wasn't there talk of building a tram line along Oxford Street? Well, they could run it along the hidden underground street,if it exists! Maybe someone at TFL could put some money into researching this for us?
Posted: 2008-11-15 13:13:01
Witchfolk
ORIGINAL: barnslou
This is a very old thread and i hope some people are still involved in this, it may have been settled but i have my fingers crossed that someone may get a reply in their email box.
Sadly the film ' Ghosts of Oxford Street 'has disappeared into the vaults and was only ever shown once by C4 and has never aired since apart from a very small clip.
All is not lost though, I have a copy !!!!!, adverts removed and recoded to dvd. It's NOT FOR SALE THOUGH, but you can have a copy for FREE !!!!!!!!
:thumbsup:
ORIGINAL: Chasamatazz
What is even stranger is this film seems to have disappeared. I would love a copy , but the film is nowhere to be found.
It was a C4 film, made around 1980. Does anyone know where a copy might be for sale?
Regards Chas
What is even stranger is this film seems to have disappeared. I would love a copy , but the film is nowhere to be found.
It was a C4 film, made around 1980. Does anyone know where a copy might be for sale?
Regards Chas
This is a very old thread and i hope some people are still involved in this, it may have been settled but i have my fingers crossed that someone may get a reply in their email box.
Sadly the film ' Ghosts of Oxford Street 'has disappeared into the vaults and was only ever shown once by C4 and has never aired since apart from a very small clip.
All is not lost though, I have a copy !!!!!, adverts removed and recoded to dvd. It's NOT FOR SALE THOUGH, but you can have a copy for FREE !!!!!!!!
:thumbsup:
Hi,I would absolutely love a copy on video or dvd R2 or English R0 dvd of 'The Ghosts of Oxford Street'.I have just read that you have a copy and would love to get one for my Mum for Xmas! Please can you let me know if you could help me!.
Posted: 2008-12-08 16:50:30
Universeman
This is a great thread!
A few years back, I did my MA thesis on subterranean London from about 1850 to 1950, and although I encountered the usual sewer/subway bits, I never once came across the idea that an entire Victorian street had been left more or less intact during a period of construction.
Now, that's not to say such a thing doesn't exist - underground London is full of interesting places, and 2,000 years of history has to go somewhere - but I think what's happened is that several ideas have been brought together as one here.
The bricking over of the Uxbridge River, for example, and the laying of large conduits for pipes/sewers, etc., might well resemble a street to those who can only catch a few glimpses in the darkness. In the same way, there were numerous cave-ins and landslides during work, so it is possible that perhaps some surface elements do survive, in a roundabout way.
Once you add in the frequent subterranean ventures during WW2, the whole thing quickly becomes more complicated, and I'm sure there are still some things that remain classified. I'm willing to bet the idea of an underground street is a combination of all these factors.
Still, underground London is full of weird and wonderful objects, from woolly mammoths and shark fossils to plague pits that necessitated the Tube tunnels be routed elsewhere, and a whole hoard of abandoned stations, tunnels and vaults. It's great stuff for stories, that's for sure.
Anyway, I hope I didn't put a damper on things; I'd be the first one there if it turns out to be true (how exciting would that be?) I think that someone should do a little urban exploration the old-fashioned way, with a headlamp, a good pair of boots, and a length of rope.
A few years back, I did my MA thesis on subterranean London from about 1850 to 1950, and although I encountered the usual sewer/subway bits, I never once came across the idea that an entire Victorian street had been left more or less intact during a period of construction.
Now, that's not to say such a thing doesn't exist - underground London is full of interesting places, and 2,000 years of history has to go somewhere - but I think what's happened is that several ideas have been brought together as one here.
The bricking over of the Uxbridge River, for example, and the laying of large conduits for pipes/sewers, etc., might well resemble a street to those who can only catch a few glimpses in the darkness. In the same way, there were numerous cave-ins and landslides during work, so it is possible that perhaps some surface elements do survive, in a roundabout way.
Once you add in the frequent subterranean ventures during WW2, the whole thing quickly becomes more complicated, and I'm sure there are still some things that remain classified. I'm willing to bet the idea of an underground street is a combination of all these factors.
Still, underground London is full of weird and wonderful objects, from woolly mammoths and shark fossils to plague pits that necessitated the Tube tunnels be routed elsewhere, and a whole hoard of abandoned stations, tunnels and vaults. It's great stuff for stories, that's for sure.
Anyway, I hope I didn't put a damper on things; I'd be the first one there if it turns out to be true (how exciting would that be?) I think that someone should do a little urban exploration the old-fashioned way, with a headlamp, a good pair of boots, and a length of rope.
Posted: 2008-12-09 17:10:42
All In London
ORIGINAL: Universeman
This is a great thread!
A few years back, I did my MA thesis on subterranean London from about 1850 to 1950, and although I encountered the usual sewer/subway bits, I never once came across the idea that an entire Victorian street had been left more or less intact during a period of construction.
Now, that's not to say such a thing doesn't exist - underground London is full of interesting places, and 2,000 years of history has to go somewhere - but I think what's happened is that several ideas have been brought together as one here.
The bricking over of the Uxbridge River, for example, and the laying of large conduits for pipes/sewers, etc., might well resemble a street to those who can only catch a few glimpses in the darkness. In the same way, there were numerous cave-ins and landslides during work, so it is possible that perhaps some surface elements do survive, in a roundabout way.
Once you add in the frequent subterranean ventures during WW2, the whole thing quickly becomes more complicated, and I'm sure there are still some things that remain classified. I'm willing to bet the idea of an underground street is a combination of all these factors.
Still, underground London is full of weird and wonderful objects, from woolly mammoths and shark fossils to plague pits that necessitated the Tube tunnels be routed elsewhere, and a whole hoard of abandoned stations, tunnels and vaults. It's great stuff for stories, that's for sure.
Anyway, I hope I didn't put a damper on things; I'd be the first one there if it turns out to be true (how exciting would that be?) I think that someone should do a little urban exploration the old-fashioned way, with a headlamp, a good pair of boots, and a length of rope.
This is a great thread!
A few years back, I did my MA thesis on subterranean London from about 1850 to 1950, and although I encountered the usual sewer/subway bits, I never once came across the idea that an entire Victorian street had been left more or less intact during a period of construction.
Now, that's not to say such a thing doesn't exist - underground London is full of interesting places, and 2,000 years of history has to go somewhere - but I think what's happened is that several ideas have been brought together as one here.
The bricking over of the Uxbridge River, for example, and the laying of large conduits for pipes/sewers, etc., might well resemble a street to those who can only catch a few glimpses in the darkness. In the same way, there were numerous cave-ins and landslides during work, so it is possible that perhaps some surface elements do survive, in a roundabout way.
Once you add in the frequent subterranean ventures during WW2, the whole thing quickly becomes more complicated, and I'm sure there are still some things that remain classified. I'm willing to bet the idea of an underground street is a combination of all these factors.
Still, underground London is full of weird and wonderful objects, from woolly mammoths and shark fossils to plague pits that necessitated the Tube tunnels be routed elsewhere, and a whole hoard of abandoned stations, tunnels and vaults. It's great stuff for stories, that's for sure.
Anyway, I hope I didn't put a damper on things; I'd be the first one there if it turns out to be true (how exciting would that be?) I think that someone should do a little urban exploration the old-fashioned way, with a headlamp, a good pair of boots, and a length of rope.
Excellent post Universeman, welcome to the forum :wave:
AIL Staff
Posted: 2008-12-10 14:42:05
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