HI Maria, I have found each of your videos amazing, filled with so much detail and information. I worked in the store in 2002, when the the modernisation happened and left in 2004 to work with Scarborough store. and always found the store amazing. These videos have really taken me down memory lane. It's such a shame the store closed, must have been devastating seeing it all coming to an end. Best of Luck Maria, again great set of videos that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Hi Ben, thank you. Our paths probably crossed as I started April 2002 and worked in the Blue Room. I still have a few videos left to add and 100's of photographs too. I had to cram in so much over 4 months. A labour of love you could say. It's incredibly sad to see this beautiful building sealed up and abandoned. I was lucky to have worked there right until the end.
This is incredible. Even though it wasn’t long ago I loved spending time in department stores and Browns in particular. How do you have access to this? It’s such a shame to see the old department stores die out. Thanks so much. I love these grand old buildings
Hi Maria, thanks for posting these videos! They are very interesting and bring back memories of the '80's/early '90s when I had several holiday jobs at Browns when studying architecture. This area was actually an external lightwell (hence the disused skylights and windows) and the white glazed bricks simply reflected as much daylight as possible. It seems it was floored-over at 1/F level at some point in the '80's. FYI, the tall mirror by the grand staircase was originally a beautiful stained glass window with a similar lightwell behind; until Bollands (next door) finally closed and the building was rebuilt at the time of the Grosvenor Precinct around 1965. This is part of the 1915 extension constructed after Bollands moved next door (see "Browns and Chester", pages 183-187). There are many blocked-up skylights throughout the building, including two octagonal-shaped ones in the perfumery (the lead upstands are still visible in the video you recently posted of the 1/F roof behind the "Blue Room"). Also, have you spotted the huge skylight on the 2/F in the 1918 extension that is (or at least was) visible above ceiling tiles? Until 1947, there was a beautiful lightwell beneath it down to the ground floor. I have quite a few old plans if you are interested..
Yes I have seen the skylight on the 2/F. It's criminal that it was covered up. I've been on the roof and there is an Apex glass roof covering it like the Blue room. I would love to see some plans and learn more about the lightwells. I think there is another one behind the stained glass window on the staircase going up to the 1/F.
Maria these are fabulous videos I'm so sorry to see Brown's like this I have such wonderful memories of working with you in the blue room. Big hugs. X
How are you? Lots of great memories of working in the Blue Room. X
HI Maria, I have found each of your videos amazing, filled with so much detail and information. I worked in the store in 2002, when the the modernisation happened and left in 2004 to work with Scarborough store. and always found the store amazing. These videos have really taken me down memory lane. It's such a shame the store closed, must have been devastating seeing it all coming to an end. Best of Luck Maria, again great set of videos that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Hi Ben, thank you. Our paths probably crossed as I started April 2002 and worked in the Blue Room. I still have a few videos left to add and 100's of photographs too. I had to cram in so much over 4 months. A labour of love you could say. It's incredibly sad to see this beautiful building sealed up and abandoned. I was lucky to have worked there right until the end.
Wow! This is absolutely fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing this, Maria
This is incredible. Even though it wasn’t long ago I loved spending time in department stores and Browns in particular. How do you have access to this? It’s such a shame to see the old department stores die out. Thanks so much. I love these grand old buildings
Hi, I still work there for the time being. Glad you like it. I'll be dropping a few more videos over the next few weeks.
Thank you I am loving your videos.
Glad you like them!
Hi Maria, thanks for posting these videos! They are very interesting and bring back memories of the '80's/early '90s when I had several holiday jobs at Browns when studying architecture.
This area was actually an external lightwell (hence the disused skylights and windows) and the white glazed bricks simply reflected as much daylight as possible. It seems it was floored-over at 1/F level at some point in the '80's.
FYI, the tall mirror by the grand staircase was originally a beautiful stained glass window with a similar lightwell behind; until Bollands (next door) finally closed and the building was rebuilt at the time of the Grosvenor Precinct around 1965.
This is part of the 1915 extension constructed after Bollands moved next door (see "Browns and Chester", pages 183-187).
There are many blocked-up skylights throughout the building, including two octagonal-shaped ones in the perfumery (the lead upstands are still visible in the video you recently posted of the 1/F roof behind the "Blue Room").
Also, have you spotted the huge skylight on the 2/F in the 1918 extension that is (or at least was) visible above ceiling tiles? Until 1947, there was a beautiful lightwell beneath it down to the ground floor.
I have quite a few old plans if you are interested..
Yes I have seen the skylight on the 2/F. It's criminal that it was covered up. I've been on the roof and there is an Apex glass roof covering it like the Blue room. I would love to see some plans and learn more about the lightwells. I think there is another one behind the stained glass window on the staircase going up to the 1/F.
@@mariabarnard4161 Hi Maria, how are you? Can you send me an email to stephen@stephen-fletcher.co.uk and will forward some old plans and photos..