The idea came to me while chaining my bike to a lamp post in Bloomsbury Square last weekend. I began to wonder if the various homes of Virginia Woolf still remained. After a quick search online, I found a list of addresses where Virginia, one of the 20th century’s most influential writers, had lived. And this week, I returned with my camera to the central London neighbourhood of Bloomsbury – now known for its charming streets, smart bistros and Georgian houses built around pretty garden squares. But it wasn’t always like this, and Virginia Woolf’s story is fascinating.
In 1904, following the death of her father, Virginia (née Stephen) moved with her mother, sister Vanessa, and their two brothers, Adrian and Thoby, from Kensington to the unfashionable yet cheaper option of Bloomsbury. By the time the Stephen family arrived, Bloomsbury was poorly maintained and rundown, making it an attractive place for artists – affordable and Bohemian.
It was at 46 Gordon Square that the young sisters Virgina and Vanessa hosted weekly soirées that went on to become the hub of the Bloomsbury Group of artists, writers and curators. After Vanessa’s marriage to painter Clive Bell, Virginia moved a few streets away, to 29 Fitzroy Square. It was at this address that she started to write her debut novel, The Voyage Out.
For a brief time, between 1911–1912, Virginia lived nearby at 38 Brunswick Square. It was whilst living here that she met author Leonard Woolf.
In 1912, Virginia married Leonard, who wholeheartedly supported her writing. And in 1917, they founded the Hogarth Press, named after their home in Richmond, west of London. After purchasing 52 Tavistock Square, Leonard and Virginia relocated to London in 1924. Working out of the basement, the Hogarth Press published much of Vanessa’s writing as well as other artists’ and authors’ work, including E.M. Forster, Roger Fry, Anna and Sigmund Freud, and The Waste Land by TS Eliot. It was at this address that Virginia published Orlando (1928), A Room of One’s Own (1930), and The Waves (1931). Virginia had a top-floor writing room, and it was here, at the Tavistock Square address, that she enjoyed financial independence and the creative, urban lifestyle that Bloomsbury had to offer. It’s said that this home inspired Virginia to write A Room of One’s Own.
What started as a hobby, hand printing books, the Hogarth Press went onto to become a much larger concern and published thousands of books, eventually outsourcing larger print-runs to a commercial printer.
In October 1940, 52 Tavistock Square was bombed during the London Blitz, destroying the house and Hogarth Press offices. The Woolf’s had already moved a few streets away, to 37 Mecklenburg Square, but just two months later, that property also suffered a direct hit and was a “heap of ruins”. This was Virginia’s last London address. According to her diaries she never got over the loss.
In her diary entry for October 17, Woolf recognised that the conflict had literally exploded the boundaries between private and public: “I could just see a piece of my studio wall standing: otherwise rubble where I wrote so many books. Open air where we sat so many nights, gave so many parties . . .” extract from TLS
Virginia Woolf’s sister, Vanessa Bell, and the artist Duncan Grant decorated the Bloomsbury townhouse with their lively and colourful painted panels. These didn’t survive the bombings, though much of Bell and Grant’s work can be seen at Charleston Farmhouse, in East Sussex.
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How lovely is the red sailor top, below? The 1930s style top is handmade in Yorkshire by House of Foxy. They also design matching 1930s style linen shorts and skirts as well as other vintage inspired fashion – and they ship worldwide. The Seaside bracelet is by Anni Lu at KJs Laundry and the blue embroidered flat sandals, are perfect for weddings or summer dressing-up, from Anniel. All ship worldwide.
RETROUVÉ
Discovering a hoard of clothes in her grandmother’s attic was the start of a life long love affair with vintage clothes and fashion for Ginny Burnett, owner of London based Retrouvé. Sourcing original vintage pieces is now a full-time job and takes Ginny around the country as well as on regular trips to France. Her current stock ranges from collectable Japanese kimonos to glam 70s maxi dresses and 1930s tea dresses. Retrouvé has built a reputation for offering a personal one-to-one experience, as well as an in-house alteration service and worldwide shipping.
Ginny works with the seasons and regularly dresses the windows in both her shops with seasonal stock – expect to see vintage swimwear and silk blouses in the summer, interspersed with romantic vintage bridal wear. And with designer pieces that often include collectible British 70s brands, such as Biba and Ossie Clark, you can count on some quality finds.
The decoration in both shops is eclectic and bohemian glam with deco inspired palm tree wallpaper and vintage haberdashery counters with displays of pre-loved hats, gloves and handbag.
At: 23 Broadway Market, E8 4PH and 61 Wilton Way, E8 1BS.
Worldwide shipping available at www.retrouvevintage.co.uk
Step into this former art deco department store in Marylebone and you’ll instantly be transported to a world of Bauhaus-inspired interiors, arts and crafts furniture and beaded flapper dresses. The antique art collection at one entrance, dazzling twentieth-century lighting at another and 1920s costumes and accessories through the east door are tasters of the many delights within. Alfies Antique Market covers such a wide range of antiques and collectable vintage that it’s almost impossible to see it all in one visit.
If you have just a couple of hours start with Tin Tin clothes and accessories on the ground floor, where you’ll see beautiful vintage gowns, 1930s lamé evening jackets, embroidered deco shawls, mid-century dirndl skirts, felt hats, antique silk slips, vintage dancing shoes and handbags. The owner Leslie has over twenty years’ experience of dealing in antiques and collectable clothing and also has a section on the first floor dedicated to quality antique luggage and original leather bound suitcases and vintage designer bags. Leslie has supplied his historical finds to film sets, designers and the cast of Downton Abbey. For opening times and details visit the Alfies Antiques website.
Last month I hosted a vintage pop-up shop within the wonderful surroundings of a Georgian building and former dairy. At the Dairy is a new venture by Daisy Shackleton – an edited collection of antique homewares, vintage fashion and vintage jewellery. Daisy’s constantly changing stock means there’s something fresh every week; from 1970s prairie dresses to sixties twin sets, vintage satin lingerie and a selection of 1930s silk kimonos.
For a wide selection of vintage clothes and jewellery visit At the Dairy (above). 42 Amwell Street, London EC1R.
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This vintage French oil painting of a village with terracotta rooftops in lovely soft pinks, blues and creams is signed and dated 1946. Framed in a decorated wooden frame, the painting measures 46.3cm x 31.5cm. Now available online at Mason & Painter.
I have several vintage folding tables currently in stock, including French café tables - perfect for outdoor dining. For more details or to make an appointment to view all stock at my Hackney studio, please get in touch or comment below.
Join me on Thursday, 14 May, at The Mercantile for the launch signing of my new book Independent Shops London. The Mercantile are one of the fifty shops featured in the book, they have a beautifully curated stock of conscious clothing and independent brands, and are located in historical Spitalfields, close to Liverpool St. Station. I’ll also be joined by my friend Suresh @thecockneysikh, spinning the tunes. Do come and say hello, 5pm - 6pm. The Mercantile 17A Lamb St, London E1 6EA.
Thank you for reading this edition of Love Vintage Etc. It’s great to see you here. If you’ve enjoyed this week’s post please click on the little heart symbol ♡ or leave a comment – I love to hear from you! Until next time, thank you for your continued support. Lots of love,
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