Lower Road-Jamaica Road - Pictures courtesy of bermondsey.biz/ information from The National Archives.
Most of us are probably unaware that Bermondsey, like other authorities, generated it's own electricity. The predecessor of Bermondsey Municipal Borough Council, "The Vestry of Bermondsey", appointed a committee in 1896 to apply for the supply of electricity. With the formation of the London Boroughs in 1899, this task was passed on to the Bermondsey Borough Council. In 1902 a generating station was built in the Neckinger and later that year an application was made to supply electricity to Rotherhithe. In 1917 local electricity generating was partially discontinued and a bulk supply was obtained from the London Electricity Supply Corporation Limited and all locally generating discontinued in 1930. In 1922 grants were given to get the electricity supply installed and the whole of the electricity industry was brought into public ownership in 1947 with the Electricity Act.
Bermondsey Electric Showrooms, which was owned and run by Bermondsey Borough Council stood on the corner opposite Rotherhithe Tunnel, on the bend where Lower Road and Jamaica Road meet.
I understand from freddie that there was a pub on this site before the shop and the design of the shop building seems to indicate that it was built between the wars.
As a child, living in Southwark Park Road, I remember the house being supplied with DC electricity (Direct Current) and as well as being lethal from shocks, you were unable to run most electrical appliances on this system as they were made for AC current system (Alternating Current).
Arrow on Map indicates position of shop.
Picture of Bus, shop at rear end of Bus, can just be seen.