Station Road Can you help with toy story?

I am trying to find out about Harrow and the history of its high street during the 1980s — particularly around 342-350 Station Road.

The current retailer Maplins owns/rent this space and I am hoping to find out what previous shops used to be there.

I have been told the toy shop Hamleys was there in the 1980s. However, Hamleys claim they never had a standalone shop that they know of in Harrow, but did have partnerships with Debenhams at the time.

My guess is Debenhams set the department up as a standalone store in Station Road up the road from their main store as they had limited retail space for it.

Are there any readers who could confirm if it was once a Hamleys toy store?

Any photographs/newspaper cutouts of what existed at 342-350 Station Road in the 1980s that you can share would also be fantastic.

If you have any information, please contact me via email at rupesh.lakhani@me.com

Rupesh Lakhani

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