Kensington High Street, London 1971

Barkers of Kensington, founded by John Barker and James Whitehead in 1870, began as a modest drapery business at 91-93 Kensington High Street. Through strategic acquisitions and ambitious expansion, it rapidly transformed into one of London’s largest and most celebrated department stores. By 1895, the company had acquired nearly every property on the south side of Kensington High Street between King Street and Young Street. The iconic Barkers building, with its Art Deco facade, was the result of a phased redevelopment that began in the 1930s and was finally completed in 1958 due to interruptions from World War II.In 1957,

Barkers was acquired by House of Fraser. While the Barkers name was initially retained, the store gradually downsized its operations. It finally closed its doors in 2006, marking the end of an era for this retail giant. Today, parts of the former Barkers building are occupied by Whole Foods Market and other retail and office spaces.

Just a short distance away, the old Kensington Town Hall stood prominently on Kensington High Street. This Italianate-style building, designed by Robert Walker, was completed in 1880. It served as the municipal heart of Kensington, housing the borough’s civic administration and playing host to numerous public events and speeches. After the council relocated in 1977, the old Kensington Town Hall faced a controversial end. In 1982, despite efforts to preserve it, the building was largely demolished, with its main frontage and interior sustaining irreparable damage