Once a key part of a ‘Golden Mile’, this department store is in a terrible state.
John Cowley
Unlisted, 1867, Harvey Jarvis
The Jones and Higgins Department Store opened at the intersection between Peckham High Street and Rye Lane in 1867 and formed an integral part of the ‘Golden Mile’ that rivalled Oxford Street for shopping in the late-nineteenth century. The central tower was designed by the Southwark architects Henry Jarvis & Sons, who also built Dulwich Hospital and the Walworth Town Hall, and is said to have been inspired by the Clock Tower in St. Mark’s Square. The original store closed its doors in 1980 and part of the building was demolished to make room for the Aylesham Centre; the rest of the building was taken over by the Peckham Palais nightclub until it closed almost ten years ago. Without an occupier or purpose, the building is now falling into ruin, and though there have been some positive developments, including the restoration of the clock in 2015, the deteriorating condition of the upper storeys is a serious cause for concern. Peckham has seen huge investment and change in recent years, and the case for bringing the building back into use is more compelling than it has ever been.
Griff Rhys Jones, Victorian Society President, said:“There is a feeling of nostalgia for this beautiful building in the local community, many of whom still remember it as an important part of the high street. The building’s architectural credentials, with its clock tower and design that is an ode to Venice, make it a valuable heritage asset. Its local connections with other buildings that were built by the same Southwark architects make it a vital part of a larger heritage context. This impressive structure at the centre of Peckham is at risk of falling further into disrepair. Surely a use can be found for this striking building in what was described by the New York Times as ‘The Beating Heart of London’s Most Dynamic Art Scene’?”
Status Update / March 2026
In 2024, proposals were put forward to convert the building into a new music venue, nightclub, and studio space, with a coffee shop and hair salon on the ground floor. These were approved for planning in 2026 and since then the owner has confirmed that the damaged windows will be sensitively replaced and that graffiti and bird droppings will be removed from the stone façade. The redevelopment of the Aylesham Centre immediately to the east of the building will enhance its position in many ways, with the new frontage referencing the department store’s historic shopfront. The relative height of the scheme has nevertheless been a cause for concern in this mostly low-rise suburb.