Above Sarson's

A view made from above Sarson's Vinegar Works showing the vats in the left foreground and, in the middle distance to the left of the Sarson's chimney, you can see the wasteland that was White's Grounds, formerly known as Artillery Row. The building in the immediate foreground was a pub but, for the life of me, I can't remember its name.

This is a view of the buildings on the corner of Tanner St and Tower Bridge Road, where I made the 'high' view at the top of the page. I must have made the views of Sarson's from the roofs to the right of the right hand chimney stacks.

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.

Melior Place, Tanner St and Elephant & Castle

Melior Place, 1984

During the demolition of the last functioning tannery, S O Rowe, at the junction of Tanner St and Tower Bridge Rd. Copyright Niall Connolly

Another view of the S O Rowe site, looking north with the Sarson's chimney and vats just visible.
Copyright Niall Connolly

The Faraday Monument, Elephant & Castle. Copyright Niall Connolly

St Mary Magdalene's Churchyard

Back in 2003, as a result of a phone call from a concerned member of the public, Southwark Council visited St Mary Magdalene's Churchyard and examined what lay behind a very fine hoarding at the northern boundary of the Churchyard.

The hoarding itself was perfectly legitimate, having been covered by an agreement between Southwark Council and the adjacent owner/developer. What wasn't quite so legitimate was what lay behind the hoarding.............................

Behind the hoarding was a concrete terrace which was an extension, into the churchyard, from the adjacent development. The terrace was some 27m by 4m and extended downward by more than 2m. To construct this structure, an equivalent cubic amount of the churchyard had been removed and with that went what are known as 'disaggregated remains' ie skeletal remains of those buried in the churchyard in the years before the churchyard was deconsecrated. (As I understand it, the disturbance or removal of 'disaggregated remains' is a criminal offence.) 

This was a good example of the conflict between development and public spaces, particularly when public spaces, such as churchyards and parks, no longer have the attention of staff who know their boundaries. Developers understand this.

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

Tower Bridge Road 1934

The triangular island at the junction of Tower Bridge Road and Grange Road, looking north.

In the background it is possible to make out a warehouse carrying the 'Rankin Bros' identity. Rankin Bros were importers of cork and occupied premises in the middle of what is now the redeveloped Bermondsey Sq and also on Bermondsey St and in Tanner St.

A close-up view of the notice-board in the centre of the image is available here. The notice-board reflects the then Bermondsey Borough Council's commitment to public health.