Druces Depository, Marylebone

8 December 1940

By Ronan Thomas

Druces Depository (Druce & Co Ltd) was a large furniture and upholstery showroom and warehouse located at the corner of Baker Street and Blandford Street, Marylebone W1.

At 7pm on 8 December 1940, Druces - also known as the 'Baker Street Bazaar' - was hit by incendiaries and gutted by fire. The adjoining streets were sealed off until the fire was controlled and debris and shattered glass cleared. No casualties were reported but the building suffered serious fire and structural damage. The warehouse stock – bedding, furniture, carpets, antiques and decorations - was largely destroyed. The building’s attractive 19th century façade was transformed into a smoking skeleton.

The smouldering debris reignited on 11-12 December and fire crews again struggled to bring it under control. Repair teams attended on several occasions to shore up the façade and clear new falling debris. These teams also faced other dangers. On 17 December 1940, Marylebone police were called to remove an unexploded anti-aircraft shell perched dangerously in the rubble.

Druces proved an unstable hazard in the Baker Street area for the next year. During April to May 1941, as new raids hit Blandford Street, Rodmarton Mews, Gloucester Place and Montagu Street, the damaged building was fatally weakened.

During the heavy night raid of 10-11 May 1941 the building was again hit by incendiaries. According to one eyewitness, firemen who attended were in danger of being sucked in by the flames: ‘like a hankerchief up a chimney flue’. Subsequently, the St Marylebone Chief Air Raid Warden, A.E Reneson Coucher, filmed colour footage of the Druces bombsite. On 20 June 1941, at around 8pm, large sections of Druces’ walls finally collapsed. Repair crews were still shoring up what was left well into September 1941.

On 9 December 1941, a second unexploded anti-aircraft shell was removed from Druces by a bomb disposal squad. Night bombing raids on the surrounding streets continued to shake the Druces ruin until February 1942. By 1945, St Marylebone Borough Air Raid Damage maps indicated that Druces was destroyed and fit for demolition. Even so, a fragment of the building (No 59 Baker Street) was still in use by Druce and Co Ltd as late as 1956.

Today, the Druces site is completely unrecognisable. In 1957, it was redeveloped as Michael House, serving as the UK Headquarters of Marks & Spencer until 2005. The site now forms part of the new 55 Baker Street office complex with its huge glass atrium and adjoining shops and restaurants.

70 years on, the area retains other wartime associations. Across the road, at 64 Baker Street, is the former HQ of the Special Operations Executive (SOE). From 1940-1945, number 64 was home to secret service teams supporting resistance in occupied Europe.

For film of Druces Depository in 1941 see Rare Colour Film Footage pages (Part 5 of The St Marylebone Society Collection)