Liberty
In a world where the word ‘iconic’ has been devalued to mean ‘distinctive’ Liberty are probably deserving of the ‘iconic’ title more than most.
Arthur Liberty founded the store in 1875 and quickly became associated with fabric designs from the ‘Arts & Crafts’ and ‘Art Nouveau’ styles. Even today ‘Liberty Prints’ are distinctive – even iconic.
The Liberty store was built in 1924 and is located on Great Marlborough Street, close to Oxford Circus underground station and opposite the stage door of the London Palladium theatre. The frontage is distinctive, in a mock Tudor style, and the interior comprises a number of small rooms with a wood-lined central atrium.
The timbers used in the construction of the building were salvaged from HMS Impregnable – a 98 gun ship of the line constructed in 1810 – and HMS Hindustan – an 80 gun ship built in 1841.
The Great Marlborough Street frontage is the same length as the Hindustan.