James Smith & Sons

James Smith & Sons is an umbrella shop in London. The premises in New Oxford Street is Grade II* listed.[1]

James Smith & Sons umbrella shop on New Oxford Street, London
Interior of the shop

History

It was founded by James Smith as a single shop in Foubert's Place in 1830.[2] Further branches were established in Savile Row and New Burlington Street and the main premises is now in New Oxford Street. The shop-fittings there were constructed around 1865 and the shop still has a traditional Victorian character.[3]

  • In the 2014 biography A Spy Among Friends: Kim Philby and the Great Betrayal, historian Ben Macintyre includes the detail that Philby owned a James Smith and Sons umbrella
  • The shop featured in episode four of the BBC's 2015 production of Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime.[4]
  • In the movie Spooks: The Greater Good, the shop is used as dead drop point for agents contacting each other covertly.

See also


References
  1. Historic England. "James Smith and Sons (1113171)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. "History". James Smith. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  3. Parker, Olivia (17 February 2012), "London's top shops: James Smith & Sons umbrella shop", Daily Telegraph
  4. Raeside, Julia (17 August 2015). "Partners in Crime episode four recap – a brolly good adventure". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2016.

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