A Stag-Horn Staff, a London Institution and a Meeting with Mr Arnold
Sometimes the story behind an object becomes every bit as important as the object itself.
Ahead of taking part in the annual Sheep Drive across the Thames, Hive Cleaning Managing Director Louis Beaumont, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, decided that the occasion called for something suitably traditional: a shepherd’s crook or staff.
And there could hardly have been a more appropriate place to look than James Smith & Sons on New Oxford Street.
Founded in 1830, James Smith & Sons is one of London's great surviving traditional businesses. The company moved to its famous premises at 53 New Oxford Street in 1857, and remarkably the shop remains largely unchanged. Its Victorian frontage, counters and fittings have become part of London's retail history, while the business continues its long tradition of selling and making fine umbrellas, walking sticks and canes.
Walking through the door feels rather like stepping into another era. Among the rows of umbrellas, sticks, unusual handles and traditional craftsmanship, Louis met one of the characters closely associated with the shop over the years — Mr Arnold Rosen, known simply as Mr Arnold.
Mr Arnold himself has become part of the character of James Smith & Sons. Back in 2009, Country Life described being shown around the shop by Arnold Rosen, including some of its wonderful historic details. On that occasion, he pointed out an old sign proudly stating that the business had been established for 50 years — before noting with some amusement that the sign itself was already more than a century old.
When Louis explained that he was looking for a shepherd's crook or staff, Mr Arnold didn't simply start showing him products.
His first question was essentially: what is it for?
Louis explained his connection with the City of London Livery movement and that he would be taking part in the traditional Sheep Drive across the Thames.
Mr Arnold immediately knew what he was talking about. What began as a search for a suitable crook quickly became a conversation about the Livery Companies, their history and the continuation of centuries-old City traditions. With the purpose understood, Mr Arnold helped Louis choose something rather more special: a beautiful stag-horn-headed staff.
It seemed the perfect choice. Traditional, individual and made by a London business whose own history stretches back almost two centuries. James Smith & Sons has itself served some remarkable customers over its long history, including Prime Minister William Gladstone, fellow Prime Minister Andrew Bonar Law and former Viceroy of India Lord Curzon. Walking sticks and canes have been just as much a part of the shop's heritage as its famous umbrellas.
Before Louis left, Mr Arnold made one further request.
He asked him to bring back a photograph of himself carrying the staff at the Sheep Drive, so that it could join the collection of photographs and memorabilia displayed around the historic shop.
Louis duly took the stag-horn staff to the Sheep Drive, joining fellow Liverymen in one of the City of London's most enjoyable traditions. And, true to his word, he later returned to New Oxford Street with a photograph from the day.
The picture now has a new connection to a shop already filled with generations of stories, objects and memories — and the return visit was marked with another photograph: Louis and Mr Arnold standing together in James Smith & Sons, holding the photograph of Louis with the stag-horn staff at the Sheep Drive.
For Louis, it brought the story neatly full circle: A visit to buy a shepherd's crook had turned into an encounter with one of London's great historic businesses, a conversation with one of its best-known characters and a small connection between two enduring London traditions.
In a world of online shopping and mass-produced products, places such as James Smith & Sons remind us that sometimes where something comes from, who helped you choose it and the story that accompanies it are what make an object truly special.
And Louis's stag-horn staff now has quite a story to tell.
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