The Older the Better (part 1)

One of the many unique selling points of Pall Mall Barbers is its age. We have been cutting hair for a very, very long time - to be precise, 115 years (figuratively, not personally). It is something we’re tremendously proud of. The barber’s role has changed somewhat: back in the day, your humble hairdresser might also be responsible for pulling out the odd rotten tooth and in some cases even some basic surgery . The red and white pole was a literal description of the barber’s function – it was a pole that the bloodied rags would hang from to dry. Very traditional poles should even have a bowl which served as a drip tray.




Last week I considered wet shaves in the context of Britain and the world and came to the conclusion that shaving is a universal need for the grown man. Barbering, however, is a very British pastime and our long running history proves this.



Growing up I took for granted our historic stories, traditions and definitely our old buildings. All these were common and unsurprising. I grew up in Nottingham, surrounded by Robin Hood pubs, Friar Tuck Ale Houses as Maid Marion tea houses. All of them stood within a stone’s throw of the famous Nottingham Castle. Folklore and history intertwined was everyday commonplace.



It was an incident back during my school days that made me realise that we have something unique and special – our history. Walking into class at the start of term I met a new student, who had just moved to England from the US. As my new friend crossed the threshold he came to an abrupt stop and I crashed into the back of him. In an almost trance like state he took a step back and looked up just above the door frame. The building was exceedingly old and had the year of it’s build above the door. My friend murmured in disbelief that our study room – our prison of home work - was built not just before American Independence but before America had even been discovered by Columbus.



Years later I moved to Canada and there too I saw a lack of history. The country is full of wonderful people and they have an amazing lifestyle. In fact during the ice hockey play offs I often think how nice it would be to emigrate there. They do however lack their historical buildings. For them if there is a building over one hundred years old, it is something of such rarity it will always have a crowd of people outside taking photos. As friends of mine from Canada once asked when they were visiting the UK, “Why do people ever come to Toronto for a holiday? We’ve got nothing to see. It’s all here in London!”



Be warned: Paul, Mal and Barbara need a haircut…




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