Painted in the 1920s and attributed to L.G., this painting is part of the Southwark Art Collection, GA 1091.
It shows the Denmark Hill shop of Russell & Co, who were linen drapers. They opened their business in the late 1870s at 66 & 68 Denmark Hill. They suceeded in business from Hills and Bamford who opened their store in 1857 at 5 & 6 High Street later 66 & 68 Denmark Hill. In 1894, Russell & Co expanded to 64 & 66 & 68 & 70 Denmark Hill. The business lasted until 1967 when the stores were divided back into three individual businesses, the National Provincial Bank, later called Natwest, Skilbeck Dry Cleaners and the wonderfully named Humpty Dumpty restaurant later to become the Golden Grill.
This postcard dates from before 1908 and shows rather elegant ladies & children outside Russells.
From the South London Press 14th January 1905 is this advertisment.
The following advertisment was copied from a 1950s Camberwell Borough Yearbook.
Love to hear from anyone with memories of Russell’s.
Credits
Southwark Art collection
British Newspaper Archive
Loughborough Junction 
Features in scenes from 1951 Ealing thriller Pool of London.
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It does, great movie too.
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I am 78 and memories sometimes ping into my head. I grew up in Camberwell. I am still in contact with Richard who lived next door and we swap memories. Russels came up. I was trying to explain to my son (37) about the arcane way of paying in Russels. There were wires above head height and gadgets that flew along them. Your money was screwed into a container which then flew up to an office where it was collected. Your change was returned via the same container.
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Thanks Linda, i just about remember the airtube system of paying., John
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