Lighting up Savile Row

Savile Row, the London street famous for its traditional men’s bespoke tailoring, is to be fitted with old-fashioned street lamps in an attempt to enhance its historic character.

Designed in 1951 by architect George Grey Wornum, and known as ‘large grey Wornums’, the lanterns are unique to Westminster City Council.

Installing the lamps is part of an ongoing plan to transform the street, which the council acknowledges has been badly affected by rising rents and business rates.

‘The area has become home to many hedge funds, which has led to issues with rent increases,’ says Simon Cundey, director of Savile Row tailor Henry Poole & Co.

In an attempt to address these issues, the council set up the Savile Row strategic group, which is working with tailoring consortium Savile Row Bespoke to make improvements to the street.

Savile Row currently houses 17 tailors, which jointly produce about 3000 suits a year and turn over about £21m.

The new lamps will be installed in autumn this year at a cost of £72 000, which will be largely funded by the area’s landlord The Pollen Estate.