A History of 21 The Pantiles

I lovely women visited my Tunbridge Wells jewellery shop who'd worked here when it was an antiques shop owned by Leonard Lasselle. She put me in touch with Lasselles (shown in this fabulous picture above) who told me about his book, 'Source of Life' which peaked my interest in the shop's history. Leonard Lassalle had the lease to my Tunbridge Wells jewellery shop at 21 The Pantiles, from 1967-1991. It's been ten years this autumn since I opened my shop and I was so intrigued to find out more...

Antiques dealer Leonard Lassalle shared the story of how he acquired the shop in his biography, "Source of Life". French-native Lassalle had moved to Frant Road in Tunbridge Wells with his wife and seven children and enjoyed collecting antiques, especially Delft ware, rugs and paintings. 

His love of antiques prompted him to visit 21 The Lower Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells where the owner at the time, Mrs Spear had a bric-a-brac antiques shop. Mrs Spear mentioned that she wanted to sell on the lease for her shop for £4000.

Lassalle did not have any money to spare, let alone £4000. Not knowing how he'd raise the money Lassalle asked his solicitor to make an offer to Mrs Spear for £3000 for the lease of the shop. Lassalle explained: "I was beginning to listen and follow these unusual spontaneous feelings that did not come from rational thinking". 

Lassalle described the location of 21 The Pantiles as a 'dead end street' which is still often overlooked. It's positioned at the eastern end of a long Regency terrace on a very quiet, no through road, tucked into a corner of Tunbridge Wells' historic Pantiles. At the time the shop occupied three floors and Mrs Spear lived in a flat on the top floor. 

A few months after Lasselle made his ofter, his great-grandmother unexpectedly died prompting Lassalle's mother to visit from the south of France. During her visit she explained that she was having a difficult time where she was living and missed being close to her grandchildren. 

After his mother returned to France, Lassalle received a letter from the solicitor to say that Mrs Spear had accepted his offer, and could he come the following Wednesday to sign the lease. That Wednesday morning a letter unexpectedly arrived from his mother in France with a cheque for £3000. Feeling full of gratitude Lassalle signed the lease and offered for his mother to move into the flat above the shop. 

Lassalle called the shop Leonard Lasselle Antiques and it provided him and his family with a livelihood for many years. He employed a secretary to oversee the shop, when he was on sourcing trips and to help with administration. 

The murals shown on the shop walls were designed and painted by Lassalle and his teenage children. He also took on interior design and sourcing work for various clients. He described his creative process:

"Before I started drawing, I would first of all feel the needs of the client, his/her nature and character, and the space that would have to be created to harmonise the surroundings. Then, holding a lead pencil in my hand, I would first go completely quiet inside and only when I had achieved that would I allow my hand to draw."

Lassalle shared that the shop looked after his family for 24 years and provided a "vessel for his talents to unfold". However, a financial crisis hit the UK in the late 1980's and wishing to return with his family to his native France he sold the lease to another antiques dealer, Howard Neville. Neville had the shop from 1991-2012. I believe Neville specialised in religious iconography. 

A really helpful team member at the Amelia centre provided me with this list of the dates of occupancy:
1886 Vacant
1892 Johnston Wm. Tailor
1921 Mrs Johnston
1937 Cook Wm. Builder
1950 Stannell Mrs E. E. stationer and post office
1959 Empett LG Antiques
1961 Pantiles Antiques
1970 Lassalle L Antiques
1991 Howard Neville.

I bought the lease in January 2013 and began a lengthly refurbishment, finally opening the doors to my Tunbridge Wells jewellery shop and atelier in October 2014. 

I've loved antiques since I was a child and use vintage and antique finds in my shop to display and style my jewellery. I love the fact that my shop is still home to antiques after all these years, even though the jewellery I make is contemporary.  Part of my creative process is also how my work is photographed and I love sourcing special and unusual pieces to help tell the story of my designs. Take a look at my Instagram to find out more. 

You can see some images of my finished shop here. My jewellery shop and atelier, at 21 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells is open Thursday - Saturday - do stop by and visit. Wherever you are in the world you can shop in my online jewellery shop here.