The Harrods Depository on the banks of the Thames in Barnes, West London, stands as a striking Art Deco landmark with a fascinating architectural and commercial history. Built between 1894 and 1913, the building was designed to serve as a furniture repository for the famous Knightsbridge department store.
The original structure was commissioned by Charles Digby Harrod and designed by architect W.G. Hunt. The building’s most distinctive feature is its prominent riverside façade, which stretches along the Thames with an impressive symmetrical design. The building was constructed in phases, with the first phase completed in 1894 and subsequent additions made through 1913 to create the complete structure we see today.
The Art Deco architectural style is particularly evident in the building’s vertical emphasis and decorative elements. The façade features distinctive stepped levels and geometric patterns typical of the era, while the central tower, added in the later phases of construction, creates a strong vertical accent that makes the building visible from considerable distances along the river.
One of the building’s most notable features is its prominent “HARRODS FURNITURE DEPOSITORIES” lettering, which remains clearly visible from the river. This signage, along with its riverside location, made it an effective advertisement for Harrods, visible to pleasure boats and commercial river traffic alike. The building effectively served as a massive billboard for the store, while also functioning as a vital part of its logistics operation.

The Depository’s location was strategically chosen. The riverside setting allowed for easy transportation of goods by barge from central London, while its position in Barnes provided convenient access to wealthy West London suburbs where many of Harrods’ customers lived. The building included its own pier for river deliveries, demonstrating the importance of the Thames as a commercial artery in late Victorian and Edwardian London.
The building’s construction utilized advanced techniques for its time. The structure was built to be fireproof, with concrete floors and thick brick walls. This was particularly important given its function as a storage facility for valuable furniture and goods. The interior was designed with large, open spaces that could be easily reconfigured to accommodate different storage needs.
The Depository wasn’t merely a warehouse – it also housed furniture restoration workshops and cleaning facilities. The building included sophisticated systems for furniture storage and preservation, with different floors designated for various types of items. Climate control was a crucial consideration in the design, with the building’s thick walls helping to maintain stable temperatures for stored goods.
During World War II, the building’s solid construction proved valuable as it survived several nearby bomb strikes. Its robust design and riverside location made it an important storage facility during this period, not just for furniture but for other valuable items being kept safe from the London Blitz.

By the late 20th century, the building’s role had evolved. As Harrods’ storage needs changed and modern logistics facilities became available elsewhere, the Depository’s original purpose became obsolete. In the 1980s, the building was converted into luxury apartments, a transformation that marked a significant change in its architectural history.
The conversion to residential use, completed in 2000, was handled sensitively to preserve the building’s distinctive external appearance while creating high-end living spaces inside. The project, known as Harrods Village, maintained the building’s Art Deco character while adapting the interior to modern residential requirements.
The architects responsible for the conversion faced the challenge of maintaining the building’s historic features while creating practical living spaces. The large windows, originally designed to provide natural light for furniture inspection and restoration, now serve to provide impressive views of the Thames for residents. The building’s robust construction and high ceilings lent themselves well to residential conversion.
The building is probably most famous now as a landmark for commentators during the annual Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race.
Today, the Harrods Depository stands as a testament to early 20th-century commercial architecture and its potential for adaptive reuse. Its preservation and conversion demonstrate how industrial heritage buildings can be successfully repurposed while maintaining their historic character. The building remains one of London’s most distinctive riverside landmarks, its Art Deco façade and prominent lettering serving as a reminder of its original purpose and the golden age of department store retail.
The building’s successful transformation from commercial storage to luxury housing also reflects broader changes in London’s urban development, particularly the transformation of industrial and commercial buildings along the Thames into residential properties. The Harrods Depository represents an early and particularly successful example of this trend, which continues to shape London’s riverside development today.