HEAL’S OF LONDON (worked from 1810)

Heal’s was established in 1810 as a family business by John Harris Heal. The business has had, since its foundation, a distinctive character and reputation for innovation.
The company was taken over by John Harris Heal junior in 1840 after the death of his father in 1833. During this time he improved the bed designs developing the Heal’s bed as a household name. He also pioneered the use of advertising, placing adverts in seven of Charles Dickens novels. The business during this time took a step from manufacturing just beds to a whole range of bedroom furniture including; wardrobes, chest of drawers and wash stands.


Ambrose Heal joined the business in 1893 and soon started designing and making simple furniture, the first catalogue of his furniture was published in 1898, founding the Heal Style. He had a great contribution both to the business, and to British furniture making in general.



Heal’s has been operating on Tottenham Court Road since 1840, its first purpose-built store was completed in 1854 and was then one of the largest in London. The central part of the present building was commissioned by Ambrose Heal and designed by his cousin and best friend Cecil Brewer. It was completed in 1917 and was immediately hailed as a landmark in shop architecture.
1960 marked Heal’s 150th Anniversary, in celebration the company decided to create a “Designers of The Future Exhibition” young designers from seven different European countries were selected and commissioned to design a room in the Mansard Gallery. Although the designs came from seven different countries, all the furniture was still made by Heal’s craftsmen. A similar tradition still remains today through the renowned “Heals Discovers” Awards.


A second store opened in Guildford in 1972 and in 1984 Heal’s was bought by Terence Conran under the Storehouse group umbrella, whilst part of Storehouse, Heal’s benefited from the professional retail skills and disciplines that a large retail group can bring. However, Storehouse largely had a chain store mentality that did not sit comfortably with the Heal’s brand. Due to the recession in the late 1980s the Company was the subject of a management buyout in 1990