The fourth stop focuses on Phyllis, and her journey throughout the story. Phyllis was young and beautiful, and the focus of many men’s affection. She was young and wanted to be loved, so she was easily preyed upon by an older married man. The fourth stop of the tour is located at The Sycamores in St. John’s Wood. The Sycamores was a studio that belonged to Sidney Darrell, a wealthy married man. The significance of this location comes from the events surrounding Phyllis and Sidney Darrell. Phyllis has decided to run away with Darrell, so Gertrude and Lord Watergate went to the studio to bring her home. They found Phyllis transformed, dressed in expensive clothing and wearing makeup. Gertrude was shocked to see her like this, thinking to herself, “Phyllis, yet somebody new and strange; not the pretty child that her sisters had loved, but a beautiful wanton in a loose, trailing garment, shimmering, wonderful, white and lustrous as a pearl” (Levy ch. XIX). After deciding to come with her sister, Phyllis fainted and died days later (Levy ch. XIX).
St. John’s Wood, the location of The Sycamores, is a real neighborhood located in Westminster, London. It is known to be one of the most desirable places to live in London (Gold). St. John’s Wood was purchased by the Eyre family in 1732 (St John’s Wood). It started out as a less developed area of London, until the Eyres developed a plan to build the area in the same style as Bath. Most of the construction was done in the 1840s, and Victorian houses and a new train station were added in the 1930s. Now, St. John’s Woods is an upper class neighborhood of London. The streets today are lined with white townhouses and lush homes. Forbes Magazine has cited that rent in St John’s Wood is the most expensive in London. In 2017, the buying price of a one-bedroom apartment was one million dollars (Alban). The iconic Abbey Road crossing is located here, as well as Abbey Road Studios, where legendary British bands such as The Beatles and Pink Floyd recorded (Gold).
Since The Romance of a Shop was published in 1889, The Sycamores was a posh, wealthy studio. It was described by Gertrude as “fitted up with all the chaotic splendour which distinguishes the studio of the modern fashionable artist; the spoils of many climes, fruits of many wanderings” (Levy ch. VIII). It was clear that Darrell was wealthy, which made Gertrude feel out of place. Phyllis did not mind their difference in classes, though, since she allowed him to dress her in fine dresses and jewelry. Seeing Phyllis dressed like a wealthy woman was a shocking difference, but gave us a glimpse at what their life might be if their father had not left them in debt.
Works Cited:
Alban, Sara Margarita. “St. John's Wood of London Provides Stunning Homes and Quiet Streets at a High Price.” Medium, Medium, 2 July 2017, https://medium.com/@saramargalb/st-johns-wood-of-london-provides-stunning-homes-and-quiet-streets-at-a-high-price-cacec50d9448.
Disson, Author by John, et al. “Shops in St John's Wood in the 1940s & 1950s.” St John's Wood Memories, https://www.stjohnswoodmemories.org.uk/content/amenities/shops-businesses/shops_in_st_johns_wood_in_the_1940s_1950s.
Gold, Kevin. “Our Guide to Living In...St John's Wood.” Kubie Gold, 4 Nov. 2021, https://www.kubie-gold.co.uk/local-area/our-guide-to-living-in-st-johns-wood/.
Levy, Amy. The Romance of a Shop. Boston, The Algonquin Press, 1889.
“St Johns Wood, London: Private Home Architects, Winchester, London.” ADAM Architecture, 10 Aug. 2022, https://adamarchitecture.com/project/new-family-houses-in-st-johns-wood-london/.
“St John's Wood.” French Touch Properties, 12 Feb. 2021, https://www.frenchtouchproperties.com/en/boroughs-of-london/st-johns-wood/.
“St John's Wood.” Hidden London, https://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/st-johns-wood/.
Street Scenes - Great Britain - England - London - North West London - St Johns Wood - Old and Local Historic Pictures around the UK - History in Pictures, http://www.history-in-pictures.co.uk/store/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=581.