Derry & Toms Building (London)

 mixed-used building, Art Deco (architecture), 1933_construction, Grade II Listed (UK)

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Former departmental store and garden roof, currently subdivided stores, offices and roof garden. Built in 1933 by architect Bernard George.
The building is most famous for its Roof Gardens, which opened in 1938 and still exist today.

In 1862, Joseph Toms and Charles Derry went into partnership to run a small drapery shop on Kensington High Street, which had been established by Joseph Toms in 1853. The business expanded and, by 1870, it had acquired seven more shops around its original site. One of these shops was used as a mourning department. The company prided itself on being the main suppliers to the upper classes of South Kensington. In 1920 John Barker & Co., the department store next door, acquired Derry & Toms.
Roof Gardens opened in May 1938 and featured a sun pavilion, an English woodland garden, a Spanish garden, a Tudor garden and a flock of pink flamingoes. The store was modernised between 1957 and 1958. John Barker & Co Ltd sold the company in 1971. Derry & Toms closed on 13 January 1973.
Since 1978 the roof garden has been listed as Grade II, and since 1981 the building has been a Grade II* listed building.

www.housefraserarchive.ac.uk/company/?id=c0563