Bermondsey St and Tanner St

The entrance to what was the GIFCO premises, now the entrance to Royal Oak Yard. Also known as 'The Concrete Castle', the GIFCO building was reputedly one of Britain's earliest concrete structures.

In the foreground is 5/7 Tanner St, Zincography House, and on its right, the site of what was Hatchers Yard. Hatchers were a haulage firm and the rather crude bollards on the pavement opposite were installed to discourage Hatchers drivers from parking on the pavement. The site was soon to become Swann Court. 

One of the saddest losses on Bermondsey St was the destruction (by fire) of 39/45 Bermondsey St. That building stood immediately next to The Stage, 47 Bermondsey St, and shared the same white glazed brick facade. Unfortunately, soon after a planning application was made for the redevelopment of the site (c1986), the building caught fire, was declared a dangerous structure and pulled down.

The Printers Yard, GIFCO, Sarsons and Tyers Gate

The view across the Printers Yard (175 Bermondsey St) after the demolition of the Bickels buildings, with Scott Colour in the foreground and the Rankins Building in the middle distance to the left. Copyright Niall Connolly

A ground level view of the Printers Yard after the demolition of Bickels. Copyright Niall Connolly

The rear elevation of the General Iron Foundry Company (GIFCO) building with the archway leading to Royal Oak Yard. Copyright Niall Connolly.

High level view looking down into the Sarsons Vinegar Works from the east side of Tower Bridge Rd.
Copyright Niall Connolly

Tyers Gate looking east towards the Arpino Gibbs building. On the left is the steel frame of the 'Dwarf House', so called because the developer squeezed 5 floors into a development intended for 4. Copyright Niall Connolly.

The new millenium

One of the large sites on the west side of Tower Bridge Road was, originally, a privately owned antiques market which ran in parallel with the more formal market on Bermondsey Sq. In 2001 the site was in the process of redevelopment
Copyright Niall Connolly.

Simon the Tanner, on Long Lane, was, at one time, a free-standing building. This image shows the beginning of the process whereby Simon the Tanner was subsumed into the canyon that is now Long Lane.
Copyright Niall Connolly

At the far end of Royal Oak Yard, on the south side, stands a concrete decked building which was originally a meat processing building. This was converted into apartments and in 2001 the owner added an additional three floors.
Copyright Niall Connolly

A view of Tower Bridge Road during the demolition of the building adjacent to The Raven public house.
Copyright Niall Connolly