We know stalking is not generally considered a good thing. But sometimes a degree of obsessive following reaps rewards. A cheeky fan letter to Soap and Salvation’s Jo and Barrie McPherson led to a very fruitful conversation, a delightful visit and the launch of a Soap and Salvation collaboration in our Project Space.
Founded in 2021, with a particular interest in mid 20th century design and rustic antique pieces, this is a business where the aesthetic of the owners is writ large and clear. Expect to see furniture by key designers from the past century; antique textiles from Anatolia; Italian and French cane mirrors; lighting from the 50s and 60s; 19th century wooden tables; Eastern European paintings. As Jo and Barrie say:
The range is eclectic, personal and utterly covetable. This is how we aspire to live.
The shop in Rye is a beautifully converted chapel in Rope Walk. Built in 1903 for the Salvation Army, the shop’s name is taken from William Booth. Booth, the methodist preacher who founded the Salvation Army to provide practical help to the poorest members of society, described his work as ‘soup, soap and salvation’. Jo and Barrie have ditched the soup and stuck with the soap.
Enjoyment comes from the histories of the objects. Pieces are not over restored. The age, patina and former use will be evident with charming graffiti on old presbytery tables or paint drips on artist’s easels. Each piece will have been cleaned, made good, given a little nourishment if required. All lighting is re-wired and pat tested.
Weekends spent in Rye and the East Sussex countryside proved too much of a lure for Jo and Barrie McPherson. They left their frenetic London careers, working for a leading design company and embarked on a life amongst the creative communities of East Sussex. Soap and Salvation is the culmination of their design experience, their scouting enthusiasm and their glorious curation.
Weekends spent in Rye and the East Sussex countryside proved too much of a lure for Jo and Barrie McPherson. They left their frenetic London careers, working for a leading design company and embarked on a life amongst the creative communities of East Sussex. Soap and Salvation is the culmination of their design experience, their scouting enthusiasm and their glorious curation.
The Project runs from 14th June until the end of July. Over the course of the run we’ll be chatting to Jo and Barrie about their approach to business, sourcing, selling and interiors. And they’ll be giving us the low down on Rye as part of our Insider series. There’ll be a periodic refresh of pieces. And they’ll be working their magic on the visual merchandising of the space. If you can’t make the trip to Winchester to see everything in the real, it is all available online.
