Swan & Edgar

Swan & Edgar Ltd

Company type	Private company
Industry	Retail
Founded	early 1800s
Fate	Closed in 1982
Headquarters	London , United Kingdom
Products	Department store goods, including Merrythought teddy bears

Swan & Edgar Ltd was a prominent department store situated at Piccadilly Circus, nestled between Piccadilly and Regent Street. Founded in the early 1800s, it ceased operations in 1982.

Before joining forces with George Swan, William Edgar operated a haberdashery stall at St James Market. Their initial retail venture was located on Ludgate Hill, but in 1812 they relocated to 20 Piccadilly. Following the demolition of this site to facilitate Piccadilly Circus's development, they moved to 49 Regent Street. After Swan’s death in 1821, Edgar continued using the established name. By 1848, their premises had expanded to encompass numbers 45–51 and the entire corner frontage of Piccadilly Circus.

In 1886, Swan and Edgar combined with Messrs Halling, Pearce and Stone, creating Waterloo House and Swan and Edgar (Limited). Leadership included John Swayne Pearce as Chairman, alongside Edward G. Stone and Lewis Edgar as directors. A decade later, in 1896, the company streamlined its capital and adopted the name Swan and Edgar (Limited).

Between 1910 and 1920, the store underwent reconstruction and architectural integration under the guidance of Sir Reginald Blomfield, featuring interiors designed by Murray Adams-Acton. This location became a celebrated London rendezvous point, particularly known for its iconic clock and restaurant on the first floor. The store gained a reputation for offering premium merchandise, including the well-loved Merrythought teddy bear. It suffered damage during the 1911 Suffragettes window-smashing protests and was also hit in London’s final Zeppelin air raid in 1917. A further rebuild occurred in 1919 by Louis David Blanc and John James Joass, preserving its esteemed status.

Facing industry pressures in 1920, Swan and Edgar was purchased by Harrods Stores Limited for around £600,000. Subsequently sold to Charterhouse Trust in 1927 for £1 million, it was quickly acquired by the Drapery Trust for £1.25 million later that same year. The Drapery Trust then became part of Debenhams, which ultimately decided to close Swan & Edgar in 1982 due to prohibitive modernization expenses.

Following its closure, the building stood empty until becoming Tower Records' flagship UK outlet. In 2003, ownership transferred to Richard Branson's Virgin Group, which operated it as a Virgin Megastore. This was rebranded as Zavvi in 2007 before Zavvi entered receivership in 2009. Since July 2010, the premises have been home to The Sting, a fashion retailer with stores across the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium.

Legacy

To commemorate the historic department store, the Feathers public house at 43 Linhope Street, Marylebone was renamed "Swan & Edgar."

The store was often mentioned by employees in the television series Are You Being Served?

External links

• Image of Swan & Edgar before renovation