Established by William Hamley as 'Noah's Ark' at 231 High Holborn. Branch at 200 Regent Street opened in 1881. The original shop was destroyed by fire in 1901 and moved down the road to 86-87 High Holborn. The Regent Street branch moved down its road in 1981 to 188-196, where, for a time, it was the largest toy shop in the world.
Other Subjects
Christ Church School, SW3
Christ Church itself was built in 1839 and quickly established its Sunday School, initially only for boys and in rented premises in Flood Street. Then Lord Cadogan donated the land directly opposit...
Enid Blyton
Children's writer. Born Enid Mary Blyton at 354 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich. Best known for creating the character of Little Noddy and the 'Famous Five' stories. Her works have been translated into...
Thomas Bowman Stephenson
Wesleyan minister and benefactor. Born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He entered the Wesleyan ministry in 1860. In 1869 he founded the Children's Home (now known as the charity Action for Children) to pro...
Charles Hamilton (Frank Richards)
Author for children. Born Oak Street, Ealing, where the plaque now is. Specialised in writing long series of stories generally using a different pen-name for each. Most famously, as Charles Hamil...
Martin Dinnegan
Killed as the result of gang rivalries, aged 14. Stabbed in Tollington Way.