What did London bronze plaque De Hems do at 11 Macclesfield St?

The Story

# De Hems, 11 Macclesfield Street Standing before 11 Macclesfield Street, you're looking at the birthplace of one of Soho's most extraordinary transformations—a vision born from the imagination of a single retired Dutch sea captain in 1890. De Hem took the ordinary pub called 'The Macclesfield' and reimagined it entirely, covering its interior walls with oyster shells collected from around the world, ultimately assembling 300,000 shells that spoke of his maritime heritage and love of gastronomy. During the darkest days of World War II, these very walls witnessed quiet acts of resistance as Dutch exiles gathered here to plot against Nazi occupation, the oyster bar becoming a sanctuary where hope and strategy intertwined beneath its glittering shell-encrusted ceiling. Though officially renamed in 1959, nearly 70 years after De Hem's vision took root, this address remains a testament to how one person's dream—to preserve Dutch culture, create beauty from the sea, and offer shelter to the displaced—could transform a corner of London into something truly unforgettable.