Robert Sayle

Sayle moved to London to learn the drapery trade with well known firms, such as Hitchcock, Williams & Co, who were based near St Paul's Cathedral.

The business sold Irish linens, sheeting, hosiery, haberdashery, furs, shawls, handkerchiefs, ribbons and fancy goods.

It was cutting edge for its time, as plate-glass windows had been added to the store front to display the shop's goods.

[3] Five years later Selfridges sold off its provincial stores and Robert Sayle was bought by the John Lewis Partnership.

The St Andrew's Street facade of the original Robert Sayle building was retained as part of the redevelopment.

A row of 4- and 5-storey terraced buildings, with their ground floors boarded up. The buildings at the centre of the photo have stone facades; the others have brick. Workers are digging up the road along the frontage of the buildings.
The former Robert Sayle building being modified to create the Grand Arcade