A plaque thought to have been destroyed during the demolition of House of Reeves has been found in the rubble and will be refitted to the wall in a ceremony in October.

The fibreglass roundel plaque, which commemorates the route of the Surrey Iron Railway from West Croydon station to Surrey Iron Railway Wharf in Wandsworth, was one of the only things left intact after fire gutted the 144-year-old family furniture shop.

It was initially thought the plaque was lost after the wall it was on was demolished, but it was found in the rubble by the site manager who returned it to the Reeves brothers.

The plaque was put up six years ago by Alan Cuttie, head of Wandle Valley mapping project, after he was given special permission by London Heritage to fit the plaques in recognition of the first public railway in the world.

He is organising a special public ceremony in October, which will see the plaque returned to the wall at Reeves Corner.

Mr Suttie said: "Incredibly, when the site manager found the plaque it was still intact and only a little chipped. The fact it was the only thing left standing is really symbolic, it is a little continual of what was.

"The original plaque should go back up as it survived not only the fire, but the demolition too. It will be a symbol of the old building which will exist and carry on regardless of whether or nor the family choose to rebuild on their second site."