London House, East Street
A view of London House on East Street, Hambledon, showing the premises of Mrs H. Matthews' Drapery & Fancy Bazaar and the adjoining café. People gather outside the shops while a horse-drawn vehicle passes along East Street. The painted frontage advertises drapery, corsets, gifts, postcards and tea.
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Historical Information
London House was the business premises of Mrs H. Matthews, who sold drapery, corsets, gifts and postcards, some of which she published herself. The adjoining premises included a café, serving the needs of passing trade and visitors to Hambledon. The live Historic Hambledon site notes that a range of businesses operated along this part of East Street, including haberdashery, a chemist, cobbler and surgery, while the Café Hall behind London House was later acquired by the Women’s Institute in 1919 for village and organisational events. London House is a Grade II listed building dating from the early 19th century, with late 19th-century alterations.