25 August 2025

The enormous Younghusband Woolstores in Kensington, just south of the station – it’s been part of Open House a number of times, but I’ve never seen it.

It was begun in 1901, the most elaborate bit, by Lloyd Tayler & Fitts, and quickly expanded a long way down the rail lines, with an L facing the side street. Then a new bit on the corner, much more modern in style designed by Arthur Purnell, was added 1928+32, with a lane between.

I remember there was a bit of a fight over it, facadism, towers, but that’s all resolved now, and the 1900s and 1932 bit has just been fixed up as office space, though seems to be waiting for occupants ? And the south section, 1917/1923, is going to be facaded after all for 8 floors of offices. It’s an ok compromise.

The interiors of the older part look great, architects @woodsbagot have left all sorts of bits behind, opened it up a bit (some of which happened before), though there’s not much natural light. The Rose Street Market has expanded to here monthly, but only just started ? There’s going to be a stage three too, but that’s across the street. Lots of 6-7 storey large area apartments popping up all round.

Found one old pic, and one from before restoration – oh I now see there’s an extra row of windows.

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