The story
As you stand here on Brompton Road, let your eyes travel up the magnificent terracotta facade of Harrods. This is arguably the most famous department store in the world, a seven-story monument to luxury that dominates the Knightsbridge skyline. With its signature green awnings and the golden lights that glow after dusk, Harrods feels like a permanent fixture of British history.
But if you can, imagine this busy street in the late nineteenth century, filled with the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages and the rustle of heavy Victorian silk. In November 1898, a crowd gathered right here for something truly revolutionary. Harrods was about to unveil Britain’s very first moving staircase, or what we now call an escalator.
At the time, the idea of the floor moving beneath one’s feet was nothing short of science fiction. It was a twenty-foot-high incline made of mahogany and iron, powered by a complex system of leather belts and pulleys. To the modern eye, it would look quaint, but to a Victorian shopper, it was a mechanical marvel that inspired as much fear as it did fascination.
The store’s owner at the time, Richard Burbidge, knew his clientele might be apprehensive about this new-fangled contraption. He wasn’t wrong. As the first brave souls stepped onto the moving wooden slats, gripped the handrails, and were slowly hoisted toward the upper floors, a sense of genuine panic took hold of some.
People reported feeling dizzy, disoriented, or overwhelmed by the sensation of being transported by an invisible force. It was a physical shock to the system for a generation used to the steady reliability of stone stairs. Harrods, true to its reputation for unparalleled service, was perfectly prepared for this technological trauma.
As shoppers reached the top of the incline, breathless and perhaps a bit wobbly in the knees, they were met by uniformed attendants. These attendants were armed with two specific remedies to help the customers regain their composure: a glass of brandy for the gentlemen and pungent smelling salts for the ladies. It was the ultimate Victorian solution to progress.
If the future was going to be fast-paced and mechanical, Harrods was going to ensure it remained civilized. Today, as you walk through the Egyptian-themed halls or marvel at the ornate Food Halls, take a moment to look for the escalators. They are far more streamlined now, whisking thousands of people a day between floors without a second thought.
But as you ride up, think of those first pioneers in 1898, clutching their hats and parasols, bracing themselves for the ride of a lifetime, and waiting for that restorative sip of brandy at the top. It was here, in this very building, that the world of shopping truly began to move.