L. Cloake & Son Ltd

Comments

Name: Mark Griffiths
Comment: Only ever used the Streatham branch, probably from 1976 until 1979 (I think it had closed by about 1983, with only the Croydon branch lingering on for a few years after that). Very good for the latest punk/new wave 45s, and occasionally they'd bring out some unplayed/unsold stock from the 1960s. I remember picking up a UK Byrds EP in there for about a quid.

Name: Dave.
Comment: Also in the arcade was L.H. Cloakes shop, near the exit into Coldharbour Lane. That's where I bought Heartbreak Hotel.

Name: Pat.
Comment: I remember Cloakes record shop in Granville Arcade. I worked in the butchers shop opposite from 1962-1964, I met Joe Brown in there one day.
(15 November 2013)

Name: Mark Griffiths
Comment: Interesting that you saw Joe Brown there, Pat. I saw him live at a little theatre just behind Morley's, which I think had become a Bingo Hall by the 1970s and has since been demolished to make way for flats. William Franklyn, the 'Schweppes You Know Who' man, was also on the bill. I'm 55 now and can just about remember it! My mother also told me she saw Tony Crombie and his Rockets at the same venue in about 1957.
(23 December 2015)

Name: Dave Harwood
Comment: The phone books show that L&H Cloake had only one branch in Streatham in 1965, at 334 High Road, SW16. They then opened a branch, at 262 High Road, Streatham SW16 in 1967, taking their phone number (01-769 7304) with them (334 High Road, SW16 isn’t listed in the 1967 phone book).
They then, apparently, closed the 93 Granville Arcade, SW9 branch in Brixton (as it is not listed in the 1968 phone book) but 262 High Road, SW16 and 334 High Road, SW16 are both listed in the 1968 phone book (and both continue to be listed until 1973). This would seem to indicate that they moved the Brixton branch into the original Streatham premises at 334 High Road, SW16, the phone number of which had changed to 01-677 9422 in 1968. It looks like it finally closed in 1974. (It is not listed in the 1975 phone book).

The 262 High Road, SW16 branch didn’t change its name to L. Cloake & Son until 1979/80 and it closed in 1983. (It is not listed in the 1984 phone book).

That solves the mystery regarding my visits to both addresses in Streatham between 1969/72 – they were both branches of L&H Cloake!
(30 March 2016)

Dave Harwood

05 Mar 2025 at 11:45

I found this advert in the 'Streatham News' dated 31st May 1946: “RECORDS — Large selection of swing, dance and classical records. Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Andrews Sisters, Harry James, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, etc. “Cornish Rhapsody,” “Warsaw Concerto,” “London Fantasia,” Handel's “Largo” and other favourites also in stock — L. & H. Cloake, 334 High Rd., Streatham (nr. Streatham Stn.).”
...and this in the 12th December 1947 edition:
“LARGEST STOCK IN SOUTH LONDON. GET YOUR RECORDS NOW FOR XMAS. L. & H. CLOAKE 334 HIGH ROAD, STREATHAM, S.W.16. Phone: STR 7304. Near Streatham Station and the Ice Rink.”
...and this in the 'Norwood News' dated 10th December 1954: “RECORDS - OVER 1,000 LONG PLAYING RECORDS IN STOCK and 10,000 78 r.p.m. Discs to choose from. L. & H. CLOAKE 334 HIGH ROAD, STREATHAM, S.W.16. LONDON'S LARGEST RECORD DEALERS.”
...plus this in the 12th December 1958 edition:
“L. & H. CLOAKE LTD. (ESTABLISHED 1946), 334/336 STREATHAM HIGH ROAD, S.W.16 Telephone STR 7304 and at 93 GRANVILLE ARCADE, BRIXTON, S.W.9 Telephone BRI 5941. Also at CRAWLEY, SUSSEX.”
...plus this in the 'Crawley & District Observer' dated 16th December 1982: “H. & R. CLOAKE LTD. FOR ALL YOUR RECORDS, CASSETTES, VIDEOS — MUSIC BOOKS & GUITARS. TOP 60 ALBUMS AND CASSETTES.”
...and this piece in the 'Croydon Advertiser' dated 18th June 1993: “Richard Cloake is proprietor of H & R Cloake, the specialist independent record shop in Croydon High Street, opposite the former Grants store.”