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Fortnum and Mason has stood on this site on Piccadilly for nearly 300 years. |
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The store has held a number of Royal warrants (1) dating back over nearly 150
years: Grocers to HRH the Prince of Wales and Purveyors of Oilery to HM the
Queen amongst others. |
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Fortnum's intricate and carefully crafted window displays (2) are the best in
London. |
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The clock (3) on the front of the building chimes every 15 minutes, and on the
hour, figures of Mr Fortnum and Mr Mason make their appearance. There are 18
bells in the clock which were cast at the same foundry as Westminster's Big
Ben. |
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Fortnum and Mason were pioneering importers of new and exotic foodstuffs from
all corners of the British Empire, such as hart's horn (baking ammonia from
antlers) and saffron. | |
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The store had an 'Expeditions' department supplying provisions to the explorers
and adventurers of the day. Champagne and tins of quail in foie gras were
shipped out to the men making the first attempts to climb Mount Everest. |
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The Fortnum and Mason hampers have been a tradition since Victorian times when
they were sold as picnics for visitors to the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park.
Only a few 'Imperial' hampers have been made - the 'top-of-the-range' hamper
costing thousands of pounds. |
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The website for Fortnum and Mason can be seen
here. | |
