South London florist run by 5 generations of the same family over …

Back in 1930, Stewart Harmer’s grandad got up at 4am every morning, unhitched his horse and cart – stationed in Dulwich Village – and rode 10 miles across London and back, twice. Every morning he would bring carts of fresh flowers back to his family-run florist. By that time, Stewart’s grandad was already part of the third generation working at Bartleys Flowers Ltd, in Dulwich Village.

Today, Stewart, 59, makes early-morning journeys similar to those of his grandad, and great-grandad – although Stewart’s mode of transport is considerably different. He says that getting up early to get the first pick of the freshest flowers is vital, he only wants to supply the best of the best. This might help explain why Bartleys still has a “very strong local customer base” and has managed to survive 145 years when other high-street shops haven’t.

Whilst Stewart himself doesn’t have any children, he does have a niece and nephew who might be able to carry the family business into its sixth generation (Image: Sam Rucker)

Bartleys is now run by Stewart, his sister Joanne and her husband. But this family business has been around since 1878, when Stewart’s great-great grandad came up from Dorset to set up a greengrocer. “Then in the 1920s,” Stewart says, “my family opened up the flower shop.

My nan and grandad ran the florist and fruit and veg business. And then my grandad’s brother had another fruit and veg shop, which we’re standing in today.” In 1976, the floral side of the Bartleys business moved into the old greengrocer and has remained a permanent fixture of Dulwich Village high street ever since. Looking around the shop, you can still see all the nooks and crannies, used to store fruit and vegetables.

Now the old alcoves are brimming with flowers of all shapes, sizes, colours and smells. Stewart himself also has an interesting backstory, explaining: “I used to be in the money market, working in finance in Japan and the Czech Republic,” he says. “I went out to Japan when I was 25 and was supposed to go for two years. I ended up staying there for eight.”

But, Stewart says, the nature of his finance job changed, adding: “It all became more computerised and digital.” So, coming back to the business that had hardly changed since Stewart worked in a flower market at 18, “seemed like the right thing to do” In 2001, then, he went from international jet setter to florist. The biggest difference between his current job and his life abroad is the time off.

He said: “In my other job, number one, you got holidays and, number two, on a Friday once you’d finished trading and checked out, the weekend was yours. Here, your busiest times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There isn’t much let up.”

Bartleys plans to stay in Dulwich, brightening up birthdays, Mother’s Days and any other days for a long time to come. (Image: Sam Rucker)

During his 22 years back in Dulwich, Bartleys has faced a number of challenges.

Most recently, Stewart says the rising cost of gas and flowers have eaten into his margins. Brexit has meant that a bulk of his flowers, coming in from Holland, have risen in price. And, the traffic regulations around Dulwich have had an impact on footfall.

Tight ULEZ restrictions and Southward Council’s school street regulations – which close certain roads near Bartleys on weekday mornings and afternoons – mean “people have found different places to go shopping”. But, despite all the challenges, after all these years, local customers keep coming back to this Dulwich Village institution. “I try and sell the best quality flowers at a very competitive price,” says Stewart. “So, customers come here, knowing they’ll get something a little bespoke, a little unique and something that you cannot get at the supermarket.” Google reviewer, Eva Pang, says, “I always pop in when I’m in Dulwich as I can’t resist picking up a bunch.

They have an amazing range and the quality is amazing at such reasonable prices!” Providing and taking pride in their high-quality product is nothing new for this fifth-generation florist. Stewart fondly remembers how his mum, Dorothy Bartley, put together a show-stopping floral display in the centre of Dulwich Village for the Queen’s Coronation in 1953.

Dorothy Bartley’s floral display in the centre of Dulwich Village for the Queen’s Coronation in 1953

It was only a few years ago that Dorothy herself was working full-time at the florist.

Up until then, she had enjoyed a 65-year-long career at Bartleys, working there from the age of 15. And, whilst Stewart himself doesn’t have any children, he does have a niece and nephew who might be able to carry the family business into its sixth generation: “We’ll have to wait and see what happens in the next five years or so, though.” Regardless, Stewart is determined to carry on the legacy of his grandad (and great and great-great grandad) for as long as possible.

Bartleys plans to stay in Dulwich, brightening up birthdays, Mother’s Days and any other days for a long time to come.

Local legends

MyLondon is celebrating London’s best independent shops, businesses and individuals who go out of their way to make things extra special. Do you still have a neighbourhood butcher who has been around the last 30 years and sells the best sausages when barbecue season arrives? Is your local mechanic or handyman so trustworthy everyone in your street turns to them and they deserve a shout out?

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References

1. ^ London carer who owes TfL GBP6,000 in ULEZ debt ‘will be forced to quit her job’ (www.mylondon.news)
2. ^ [email protected] (www.mylondon.news)
3. ^ website (www.mylondon.news)
4. ^ here (data.reachplc.com)