Selfridges flagship gets listed building status upgrade

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Dec 16, 2020

World-renowned department store Selfridges has been awarded additional protection for its Oxford Street, London, building. It's one of 423 National Heritage List sites to be added to or upgraded on Historic England's list.

As one of the world's most famous department stores and tourist destinations, the Selfridges flagship “played a huge part in transforming Britain's retail scene at the turn of the 20th Century”, Historic England said, upgrading the listed building from Grade II to Grade II* status.

Through "elaborate window dressing, excellent customer service and clever advertising", the department store became a "social and cultural institution" open to the general public, Historic England added.

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Designed by Daniel Burnham for Harry Gordon Selfridge, it was opened in 1909. The now-540,000 sq ft store includes original features such as marble staircases, columns and the long facade shopping arcade.

Historic England chief executive Duncan Wilson said: "Despite the challenges that the heritage sector has faced this year, 2020 has seen many brilliant additions to the list.

"We want to ensure England's rich and varied cultural heritage is protected so that the public can continue to cherish the heritage that makes their local places so important."