Interesting facts
“For the gratification of the public”
* Lord George Cavendish, who lived in Burlington House (now the Royal Academy) commissioned his architect, Samuel Ware, to design a covered promenade of shops – unofficially to stop ruffians from throwing quantities of rubbish, in particular oyster shells, onto his property and officially “for the gratification of the public and to give employment to industrious females”.
* The result – the very first shopping Arcade, nearly 200 yards in length – was opened on the 20th March 1819 to great acclaim and is designated as a historic and architectural masterpiece.
* Reputed to have cost £49,000 to build, the early annual rents were £52 for a double site and £12.2.3d for a single – inclusive of rates.
* Originally, there were 47 leaseholders, six of whom were ‘industrious females’ but, in accordance with the rules of the day, even the male milliners and corsetières were addressed as ‘Madame’. Many of the tenants and their families lived under very cramped conditions above and below their shops, sharing the space with their stock.
* One of the early leaseholders was patronised by the Prince Regent to supply gold lace for his uniforms.
* Sadly, today’s Beadles can no longer enjoy the luxury of resting in the armchairs originally positioned at either end of the Arcade and designated for their use.
* During the 19th and early 20th centuries, a hand bell was rung by the Beadles to announce the close of trading – in the 1880s the curfew was 8pm.
* In 1879 the Arcade came into the possession of the Chesham family whose Coat of Arms still dominates the Piccadilly Arch while their family motto ‘Cavendo Tutus’ (Secure in Caution) is blazoned across the Arch of Burlington Gardens.
* In 1953 Percy, the poltergeist, made his first official appearance in the Arcade and left his mark by rearranging briefcases and handbags in a perfect semi-circle on the floor of No. 42 – The Unicorn Leather Company. This resulted in Percy’s notoriety being featured in a BBC TV programme.
* James Drew at No. 3 was the first retailer to receive the Royal Warrant in the Arcade. He was responsible for Gladstone’s celebrated high collars specially made to the latter’s designs. Until the late 60s, he offered a stiff collar that was named specifically after Gladstone. Drew was also the instigator of the Piccadilly collar and the Horse Shoe knot-tie. His final claim to sartorial fame was to invent the soft collar.
* March 1936 saw chaos in the Arcade when a fire broke out and both tenants and visitors caused havoc by panicking and looting occurred. More seriously, there was considerable architectural damage to the Piccadilly end during the war when the Arcade was stuck by bombs: restoration work was required and completed in the 1950s.
* Fred Astaire was the recipient of nine pairs of unique gold and striped slippers purchased in the Arcade by an admirer. Some time later the designer spotted Astaire checking the window displays in the Arcade and guessed what he was looking for. “I stood in the doorway and as he approached, I cast my eyes down to where the slippers were displayed.” Astaire roared with laughter and bought several more pairs.
* The film star, Ann Todd, telephoned Richard Ogden – old established jeweller in the Arcade – to ask if he would consider closing his shop for a brief visit by Ingrid Bergman who did not wish to attract any publicity. He immediately agreed and positioned one of his staff outside the door to deter any would-be customers. When an elderly lady approached he explained, as instructed, that the shop was temporarily closed but could not restrain himself from adding, “Have a look, can you see who is in there?” Peering through her pince-nez she said delightedly, “of course I can see, it is dear Mr. Ogden.”
* Drama erupted in the Arcade in June 1964 when a spectacular robbery took place. A Jaguar Mark 10 charged down the Arcade at high speed – (the first and only four wheels ever to enter the Arcade) and six masked men, armed with axe handles and iron bars smashed the windows of the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Association shop and stole jewellery valued at £35,000. They made their escape by reversing back up the Arcade and were never caught! The bollards at the Burlington Gardens entrance were subsequently introduced.
* The 150th anniversary celebrations were only the third social function in the Arcade’s history. The first was to mark the passing of the Parliamentary Reform Bill in 1832; the second, in 1954, to celebrate the rebuilding of the north end of the Arcade destroyed by war damage. On 21 May 1969, at an evening reception, the Guest of Honour Princess Alexandra unveiled a commemorative plaque designed and moulded by Joshua Wedgwood studios to mark the 150th milestone.
* During the Crimean war, Lord Panmure, Minister for War, requested designs from Hancocks - the highly respected jeweller – for a new award. Prototypes were submitted to Queen Victoria and in March 1856, Her Majesty finally approved on design: the Victoria Cross. The first presentation took place on 26th June 1857 when Queen Victoria decorated 62 soldiers and sailors. Since the inception of the unique awards, Hancocks have produced every one of the 1,350 VCs that have been issued.
* During the last decade, the Arcade has provided the location for major films such as “Patriot Games” (with Harrison Ford), “101 Dalmatians”, and “Scandal” (the Profumo affair).