A Croydon landmark which suffered damage during the 2011 riots has been placed on a register of historic sites in danger of crumbling away.
House of Reeves furniture store has just been added to Historic England’s 2026 Heritage at Risk Register.
Updated on November 5, the register spotlights 197 new sites, including 16 monuments and buildings in London threatened by neglect, decay, structural problems or uncertain futures.
The iconic Grade II-listed early 18th-century building which houses the independent family-run furniture and home-goods business was added due to its “poor” and declining condition and risk of further decay.
A family business since the 1830s
The House of Reeves was established in the 1830s in Sherborne, Dorset, by Edwin Reeves, before relocating to Church Street, Croydon, in 1867.
It started out as an ironmongery and curiosity shop — and passed down through five generations of the Reeves family who later expanded into furniture.
The business expanded its footprint near Church Street and Roman Way in the 1920s, giving its name to the junction known as Reeves Corner and the nearby Reeves Corner tram stop.
Burned down in the 2011 riots
During the August 2011 London riots, buildings belonging to the House of Reeves were set on fire and burned to the ground in an arson attack.
Led by the family — including Maurice, Trevor, and Graham Reeves — alongside an outpouring of community support, the business quickly reopened trading from a smaller surviving premises nearby.
The store was put up for auction in 2022 along with another plot over the road for £3 million but the sale was pulled at the last moment with brothers Trevor and Graham Reeves vowing to continue to run it as a furniture and discount outlet.
What being at risk means
Buildings are added to the Heritage at Risk Register when their condition is poor and declining, and they face a risk of further decay. The register is meant to spotlight sites in need of attention and encourage their restoration and reuse, rather than to mark them as lost.
Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, Co-CEOs of Historic England, said: “Our historic buildings and places help tell the story of where we live and contribute to the character and identity of local communities. Each year, the Heritage at Risk Register showcases the positive impact that restoring and reusing these special places can have.
“The most effective way to protect our buildings is to bring them back into use as places that create connection and enjoyment for local people.”
Read our report on the 2026 Heritage at Risk Register, which saw 24 London landmarks saved and 16 new sites added, and our story on the restoration appeal for Crocker’s Folly, another endangered London building.
