Founded 1867 (1867) Key people The Reeves family Website www.houseofreeves.com | Founder Edwin Reeves Number of employees 15 | |
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Headquarters 120 Church Street
, Croydon, London, England | ||
House of Reeves is an independent family-run furniture store in Croydon, south London, founded in 1867.
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The company came to widespread public attention in August 2011, when one of its two adjacent buildings was destroyed in an arson attack during the 2011 England riots. Images of the furniture store on fire, with firefighters unable to tackle the blaze because police could not protect them, became symbolic of the violence that spread across the country during several days of rioting and looting.
Background
The furniture store was founded in 1867 as Ye Olde Curiositie Shoppe on Church Street — opposite Croydon Parish Church — by Edwin Reeves, a barrel maker from Sherborne, Dorset. He passed the business to his son, William. The store's name was changed after World War II to E. Reeves Ltd., and was passed to William Jr., then to Maurice Reeves, the company chairman as of 2011. The London business is run by Maurice's sons, Trevor and Graham, Another of Edwin Reeves' great-great-grandsons is Marc Reeves, former editor of the Birmingham Post.
The store became known as the House of Reeves, and in the late 1970s the corner on which it is located was named "Reeves Corner". It is served by Reeves Corner tram stop.
Arson attack
One of the company's two adjacent stores was razed to the ground by an arson attack on 8 August 2011 during the 2011 England riots. Firefighters arrived too late to save the buildings because police had been unable to guarantee their safety. Time magazine wrote that the destruction of House of Reeves came to symbolize the violence that spread across England during the three days of rioting. Trevor Reeves said that the company, which employs 15 people, would remain in business. A group was set up on the Internet offering donations to help the store rebuild.
Police arrested a 21-year-old man two days after the fire on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, and later a 15-year-old and another 25-year-old male. On 13 August Gordon Thompson, aged 33, was arrested in Surrey Street after he was recognised from his picture on the front page of the Croydon Advertiser. He was charged on 14 August. He pleaded guilty during his trial in February 2012, and on 11 April was sentenced to eleven and a half years in prison.