Gamages

Gamages was a department store in central London, founded by Arthur Walter Gamage, the son of a Herefordshire farmer. It began in 1878 in a rented watch repair shop and, after quickly becoming a success amongst its customers, was established as a London institution. In time it was to grow large enough to take up most of the block on which it was situated. The store finally closed in 1972, but prior to that had been unusual in that its premises were away from the main Oxford Street shopping area, being on the edge of the City of London at Holborn Circus. Gamages also ran a successful mail-order business.