Kennards was one of
Croydon's main department stores.

It was big, bold
and great at promoting itself.

All of the cups and saucers
in Kennards restaurant
had this strong pattern.
Knives, forks and spoons
had the Kennards logo
pressed into them too.

William Robin Kennard talks about
his family's department store:

"All the china was that pattern
so I suppose it must have been used
during the day for coffee
and in the evening for the functions."

"It was a very big restaurant
and when it was full
probably two or three hundred people
I would think would have been there,
so there were probably
two or three hundred coffee cups. "

"&we were unfortunate enough
to have our very strong,
strong room broken into
on a Sunday night
and the greater part
of Saturday's takings,
a near 16000 pounds,
was stolen.

An amusing story
came out of this robbery
because the strong room was situated
on the floor below the snack bar,
or luncheonette,
as it was called,
and the thieves would help themselves
to drinks after their labours
and they left the cash

to pay for their refreshments."

In the evening,
the restaurant at Kennards
hosted huge and impressive dinners
for local trade organisations
and charities.

In the daytime,
it served and entertained customers.
A band played
while people ate and drank
and a steam train
carried delighted children
across the flat roof.

To find out more about the history
Of Kennards read Vivien Lovett's
Book
Kennards of Croydon:
the store that entertained to sell
This is available to lend
from Croydon Central library
And to buy at good book shops