secretary: brian strong, 14 eversleigh road, new barnet, herts … · 2019-02-03 · 9 march sat...

© GLIAS and individual authors

GLIAS NEWSLETTER

Company No. 5664689 England Charity No. 1113162

300 February 2019

GREATER LONDON INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY SOCIETY ISSN 0264-2395 www.glias.org.uk

Secretary: Tim Sidaway, c/o Kirkaldy Testing Museum, 99 Southwark Street, London SE1 0JF. Email:

[email protected]

Newsletter Editor: Robert Mason, Greenfields Farm, The Street, Great Wratting, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 7HQ.

Email: [email protected]

DIARY DATES

GLIAS LECTURES

Our regular lectures will be held at 6.30pm in The Gallery, Alan Baxter Ltd, 75 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL.

The Gallery is through the archway and in the basement at the rear of the building. There is a lift from the main

entrance.

27 February Wed ROLLER FLOUR MILLS OF LONDON. By Mildred Cookson, The Mills Trust. NB. this

is the fourth Wednesday in February – all others are the third Wednesday as usual

20 March Wed LONDON’S LOST RAILWAY TERMINI. By Tony Riley

17 April Wed RIPPLES IN TIME: THE BUILDING OF GREENWICH POWER STATION & THE

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES FOR THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY. By Graham

Dolan

15 May Wed AGM (6.15pm) + TBC. By Richard Albanese, Maritime Heritage Project Manager

OTHER EVENTS

2 February Sat LONDON SEWING MACHINE MUSEUM OPEN DAY. 2pm to 5pm. London Sewing

Machine Museum, 308 Balham High Road, London SW17 7AA. Tel: 020 8682 7916.

Web: www.craftysewer.com/acatalog/London_Sewing_Machine_Museum.html

3 February Sun CROYDON AIRPORT OPEN DAY. Croydon Airport Visitor Centre, Airport House,

Purley Way, Croydon CR0 0XZ. Open on the first Sunday of the month, every month,

throughout the year. Web: www.croydonairport.org.uk

3 February Sun GUIDED WATERSIDE WALK, BY THE IWA. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park &

Bow Back Rivers & Carpenters Road Lock. Start at 2.30pm, outside Stratford station (by

‘Newham London’ sign). £10 adults, £8 concession rate. No prior booking needed. Tel:

0203 612 9624. Web: www.waterways.org.uk

3 February Sun KIRKALDY TESTING MUSEUM OPEN DAY. 11am to 5pm (last entry 4pm). 99

Southwark Street, SE1 0JF. Web: www.testingmuseum.org.uk

4 February Mon WALK THE RAILS. Exclusive walking tours through the hidden underground tunnels of

Mail Rail at The Postal Museum. 6pm to 8pm. Web: www.postalmuseum.org

5 February Tue EXPLORING FREDERIC LEIGHTON’S PRIVATE PALACE OF ART, ITS HISTORY

AND ITS CONSERVATION. ICON Historic Interiors Group AGM at Leighton House

Museum, 12 Holland Park Road, London W14 8LZ. 6.30pm. Web:

GLIAS NEWSLETTER NO. 300 February 2019

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https://icon.org.uk/events/historic-interiors-group-agm-at-leighton-house-museum

6 February Wed OLD ROTHERHITHE. A Docklands History Group film show by Darren Knight. 5.30pm

for 6pm, Museum of London Docklands, West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, London E14

4AL. New members and visitors are very welcome. A £2 donation is suggested from

visitors. Web: www.docklandshistorygroup.org.uk

7 February Thur THE DERBY AND SANDIACRE CANAL. A London Canal Museum talk by Chris

Madge. 7.30pm. £4 (£3 discounts). 12/13 New Wharf Road, N1 9RT. Tel: 020 7713 0836.

Web: www.canalmuseum.org.uk

8 February Fri THE EALING STUDIOS. Illustrated talk by lecturer and curator Hilary Smith. 7pm. £10.

Gunnersbury Park Museum, Gunnersbury Park House, Popes Lane, London W5 4NH.

9 February Sat GUIDED TOWPATH WALK, BY THE IWA. Along the Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to

Camden. Start at 10.45am, outside Warwick Avenue tube station. £10 adults, £8

concessionary rate. No prior booking required. Tel: 0203 612 9624. Web:

www.waterways.org.uk

9 February Sat BRIXTON MARKET HERITAGE WALK. 2.30pm to 3.45pm. £3. Web:

www.brixtonsociety.org.uk

9 February Sat THE CHANGING FACE OF THE HIGH STREET. At London Metropolitan Archives, 40

Northampton Road, London EC1R 0HB. Free, booking essential.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-changing-face-of-the-high-street-tickets-53384972891

9-10 February THE LISTED PROPERTY SHOW, Olympia, London. Web: www.lpoc.co.uk/the-listed-

property-show-london/

11 February Mon BARKINGSIDE IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY: SOME POSTCARDS AND

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS. An Ilford Historical Society talk by Alan Simpson. £3.

7.30pm to 9.30pm, Ilford Hospital Chapel, The Broadway, Ilford Hill, Ilford IG1 2AT.

http://ilfordhistoricalsociety.weebly.com

12 February Tue TfL’s RAIL ACTIVITIES IN 2018. A London Underground Railway Society talk by Kim

Rennie. 7.15pm, At Upper Room, All Souls Clubhouse, 141 Cleveland Street, London

W1T 6QG. Web: www.lurs.org.uk

13 February Wed THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. A Newcomen Society lecture by Robert Taylor.

5.45pm. The Dana Studio, Wellcome Wolfson Building, 165 Queens Gate, London SW7

5HD. Visitors welcome, admission free. Web: www.newcomen.com

13 February Wed NARROW BOAT RAYMOND: THE PAST YEAR OF CELEBRATIONS. An Inland

Waterways Association (South London Branch) talk. 7.45 for 8.00pm at The Primary

Room, The United Reformed Church Hall, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon CR0 5LP. For

more information please contact the Social Secretary Shea Richardson. Tel: 07803 904803.

Email: [email protected] Web:

www.waterways.org.uk/southlondon/south_london

14 February Thur A MODEST LIVING, MEMOIRS OF A COCKNEY SIKH. An East London History

Society talk by Suresh Singh in conversation with Stefan Dickers from the Bishopsgate

Institute. 7.30pm, Latimer Church Hall, Ernest Street, E1. Web:

www.eastlondonhistory.org.uk

14 February Thur THE DAVID WILKINSON MEMORIAL LECTURE: LOUGHTON AERODROME. A

Loughton and District Historical Society talk by Alan Simpson. 8pm, Methodist Church,

Loughton High Road. Visitors welcome, £2.50. Web:

www.loughtonhistoricalsociety.org.uk

14-17 February LONDON CLASSIC CAR SHOW. Excel, London. Web:

www.thelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk

17 February Sun RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECTS IN SOUTHWARK. A Peckham Society talk

by Gill King. 3pm, Goose Green Centre, St John’s Church, Goose Green, East Dulwich

Road, SE22. Web: www.peckhamsociety.org.uk

17 February Sun GUIDED TOWPATH WALK, BY THE IWA. Along the Grand Union Canal: Little


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Venice and Paddington Green. Start at 2.30pm, outside Paddington station, Bakerloo line

Praed Street exit. £10 adults, £8 concessionary rate. No prior booking required. Tel: 0203

612 9624. Web: www.waterways.org.uk

17 February Sun RIVER LEA - LEA VALLEY WALK, HERTFORD TO BROXBOURNE. New River

Action Group / Friends of the New River walk led by Charles Morris. 10.10am start.

Outside Hertford East station. Free

18 February Mon RECOLLECTIONS OF SOHO FOUNDRY AND THE GHOSTS OF BOULTON, WATT

AND MURDOCK. A Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group talk by John Joyes. 7.30pm,

St Mary’s Church Hall, Castle Street, Reading RG1 7RD. Web: www.biag.org.uk

19 February Tue HISTORY OF A HOUSE – CASE STUDY SALUTATION ALLEY, WOOLWICH. A

Greenwich Industrial History Society talk by David Cuffley. 7.30pm, the Old Bakehouse,

rear of Age Exchange Centre, 11 Blackheath Village, SE3 (opposite Blackheath Station).

£1 for non members. http://greenwichindustrialhistory.blogspot.com/

19 February Tue THE BUILDING OF LONDON’S MAINLINE STATIONS. At London Metropolitan

Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London EC1R 0HB. Free, booking essential.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-building-of-londons-mainline-stations-tickets-53391625790

21 February Thur THE ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS. A Watford & District Industrial History Society

lecture by Richard Thomas. 8pm, North Hall, Queens’ School, Aldenham Road, Bushey

WD23 2TY. Visitors are welcome; suggested minimum donation of £4. Web:

www.wadihs.org.uk

24 February Sun EPPING ONGAR RAILWAY GREEN LINE BUS RALLY. Web: www.eorailway.co.uk

24 February Sun ART DECO TUBE EXCURSIONS. Journey 1 Ealing Broadway – Moorgate; Journey 2

Moorgate – Ealing Common. Time: Journey 1 10:11 – 12:07/ Journey 2 13:11 – 15:23.

Tickets: Adults £30; concessions and children £25. Web: www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-

on/events-calendar/heritage-vehicles-outings

24 February Sun LOW TIDE WALK THROUGH DEPTFORD CREEK. 11am to 1pm. Creekside

Discovery Centre, 14 Creekside, Deptford SE8 4SA. Web: www.creeksidecentre.org.uk

25 February Mon A 40-YEAR JOURNEY RUNNING BUSES IN LONDON AND BEYOND. A London

Omnibus Traction Society talk by Jon Batchelor. 6pm for 7.30pm start. Conway Hall, Red

Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. There is no charge. Visitors are welcome, especially

from other societies or if you buy something or join as a new member. Web:

www.lots.org.uk

25 February Mon TOTTENHAM MILLS – THE RESULTS OF A RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL

EXCAVATION. By Ellen Green, Pre-Construct Archaeology. Kindly supported by the

Friends of Bruce Castle. Doors open 12 noon. Tea/coffee available, bring your own lunch.

Venue Bruce Castle Museum, Lordship Lane London N17 8NU. Victoria line to Seven

Sisters, then bus 243 or 123 from Turnpike Lane Piccadilly line to Bruce Castle Park.

Secure car park on site.

25 February Mon THE SUEZ CANAL. A Railway and Canal Historical Society talk by Roger Squires.

6.30pm, Rugby Tavern, Rugby Street (off Lamb’s Conduit Street), London WC1N 3ES.

Web: www.rchs.org.uk

2 March Sat LONDON SEWING MACHINE MUSEUM OPEN DAY. 2pm to 5pm. London Sewing

Machine Museum, 308 Balham High Road, London SW17 7AA. Tel: 020 8682 7916.

Web: www.craftysewer.com/acatalog/London_Sewing_Machine_Museum.html

3 March Sun GUIDED TOWPATH WALK, BY THE IWA. Along the Regent’s Canal: Islington to

Mile End. Start at 2.30pm, outside Mile End tube station. £10 adults, £8 concessionary

rate. No prior booking required. Tel: 0203 612 9624. Web: www.waterways.org.uk

3 March Sun KIRKALDY TESTING MUSEUM OPEN DAY. 11am to 5pm (last entry 4pm). 99

Southwark Street, SE1 0JF. Web: www.testingmuseum.org.uk

3 March Sun HOUSE MILL GUIDED TOUR. The cost is £4 and the tour lasts about 45 minutes.

Accompanied under-16s are free of charge. 11am to 4pm. No booking (other than for

groups) required; the last tour will leave at around 3.15pm. Three Mill Lane, Bromley-by-


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Bow, London E3 3DU. Tel: 020 8980 4626. Email [email protected] Web:

www.housemill.org.uk

5 March Tue MOULD AND TIMBER DECAY. SPAB Lunchtime CPD Lecture Series, London. Web:

www.spab.org.uk

6 March Wed RIVERINE/RIVERSIDE ARCHAEOLOGY AND FINDS. A Docklands History Group

talk by Jane Sidell. 5.30pm for 6pm, Museum of London Docklands, West India Quay,

Hertsmere Road, London E14 4AL. New members and visitors are very welcome. A £2

donation is suggested from visitors. Web: www.docklandshistorygroup.org.uk

7 March Thur THE SHREWSBURY AND NEWPORT CANAL. A London Canal Museum talk by Brian

Nelson. 7.30pm. £4 (£3 discounts). 12/13 New Wharf Road, N1 9RT. Tel: 020 7713 0836.

Web: www.canalmuseum.org.uk

7-28 March JOHN RUSKIN AND HIS LEGACY. SPAB Spring Lecture Series 2019, London. Web:

www.spab.org.uk

9 March Sat BRIXTON MARKET HERITAGE WALK. 2.30pm to 3.45pm. £3. Web:

www.brixtonsociety.org.uk

11 March Mon GREER GARSON, FILM STAR: FROM MANOR PARK TO HOLLYWOOD: THE

TRUE STORY OF ‘MRS MINIVER’. An Ilford Historical Society talk by Janet Seward.

£3. 7.30pm to 9.30pm, Ilford Hospital Chapel, The Broadway, Ilford Hill, Ilford IG1 2AT.

http://ilfordhistoricalsociety.weebly.com

12 March Tue MANAGING BATS IN OLD BUILDINGS. SPAB Lunchtime CPD Lecture Series,

London. Web: www.spab.org.uk

12 March Tue THAMES FISHING INDUSTRY AND GREENWICH WHITEBAIT. A Greenwich

Industrial History Society talk by Roger Williams. 7.30pm, the Old Bakehouse, rear of

Age Exchange Centre, 11 Blackheath Village, SE3 (opposite Blackheath Station). £1 for

non members. http://greenwichindustrialhistory.blogspot.com/

13 March Wed BRANCH AGM AND SOCIAL MEETING. (Update on IWA vision for London from

Paul Strudwick, Region Chairman). An Inland Waterways Association (South London

Branch). 7.45 for 8.00pm at The Primary Room, The United Reformed Church Hall,

Addiscombe Grove, Croydon CR0 5LP. For more information please contact the Social

Secretary Shea Richardson. Tel: 07803 904803. Email: [email protected]

Web: www.waterways.org.uk/southlondon/south_london

13 March Wed W J MACQUORN RANKINE’S EARLY YEARS. A Newcomen Society lecture by Ben

Marsden. 5.45pm. The Dana Studio, Wellcome Wolfson Building, 165 Queens Gate,

London SW7 5HD. Visitors welcome, admission free. Web: www.newcomen.com

14 March Thur A LOCAL FAMILY: SYMONDSONS IN UPSHIRE AND LOUGHTON. A Loughton

and District Historical Society talk by Carole Symondson. 8pm, Methodist Church,

Loughton High Road. Visitors welcome, £2.50. Web:

www.loughtonhistoricalsociety.org.uk

14 March Thur THE EAST END IN COLOUR 1960-1980, THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF DAVID

GRANICK. An East London History Society talk by Chris Dorley-Brown. 7.30pm,

Latimer Church Hall, Ernest Street, E1. Web: www.eastlondonhistory.org.uk

16 March Sat SEASON OPENING DAY. Hampton and Kempton Waterworks Railway. Kempton Park

Waterworks, Snakey Lane, Middlesex, TW13 6XH. Web:

www.hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk

16-17 March KEMPTON GREAT ENGINES STEAMING WEEKEND. 10.30am to 4pm. Adults £7,

concessions £6, children (to 16) free. Feltham Hill Road, Hanworth, Middlesex TW13

6XH. Web: www.kemptonsteam.org

17 March Sun GUIDED TOWPATH WALK, BY THE IWA. Along the Regent’s Canal: Little Venice to

Camden. Start at 2.30pm, outside Warwick Avenue tube station. £10 adults, £8

concessionary rate. No prior booking required. Tel: 0203 612 9624. Web:



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18 March Mon HENRY TATE, SUGAR MAGNATE AND PHILANTHROPIST. A Clapham Society talk

by Bill Linskey. Omnibus, 1 Clapham Common North Side, SW4 0QW. 7pm for 8pm.

Web: www.claphamsociety.com

18 March Mon THE STORY OF CARBON ARC LIGHTS. A Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group

talk by John Holden. 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church Hall, Castle Street, Reading RG1 7RD.

Web: www.biag.org.uk

19 March Tue VEGETATION AND OLD BUILDINGS. SPAB Lunchtime CPD Lecture Series, London.

Web: www.spab.org.uk

21 March Thur TITANIC’S RIVETS. A Watford & District Industrial History Society lecture by Rudi

Newman. 8pm, North Hall, Queens’ School, Aldenham Road, Bushey WD23 2TY.

Visitors are welcome; suggested minimum donation of £4. Web: www.wadihs.org.uk

23 March Sat GUIDED TOWPATH WALK, BY THE IWA. Along the Regent’s Canal: King’s Cross –

Granary Square – Camden. Start at 10.45am, outside King’s Cross station (taxi rank). £10

adults, £8 concessionary rate. No prior booking required. Tel: 0203 612 9624. Web:


25 March Mon SLIDE SHOW. A London Omnibus Traction Society talk by Alan Osborne. 6pm for

7.30pm start. Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL. There is no charge.

Visitors are welcome, especially from other societies or if you buy something or join as a

new member. Web: www.lots.org.uk

25 March Mon AGM & BRINDLEY IN LONDON AND HIS PLANS FOR THE RIVER THAMES. A

Railway and Canal Historical Society talk by Victoria Owens, preceded by the very short

Branch AGM. 6.30pm, Rugby Tavern, Rugby Street (off Lamb’s Conduit Street), London

WC1N 3ES. Web: www.rchs.org.uk

29 March Fri JOSEPH BAZALGETTE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY. At London Metropolitan Archives, 40

Northampton Road, London EC1R 0HB. Free, booking essential.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/joseph-bazalgettes-birthday-party-tickets-53146795496

30 March Sat RT80 EVENT IN BARKING. Barking Garage, River Road Garage. Part of RT80

celebration and marking 40 years since RTs and RFs came out of service with London

Transport. Web: www.londonbusmuseum.com

30 March Sat LOW TIDE WALK THROUGH DEPTFORD CREEK. 2pm to 4pm. Creekside Discovery

Centre, 14 Creekside, Deptford SE8 4SA. Web: www.creeksidecentre.org.uk

31 March Sun CROSSNESS ENGINES PUBLIC STEAMING DAY. 10.30am to 4pm. Bazalgette Way,

Abbey Wood, London SE2. No booking required. Web: www.crossness.org.uk

3 April Wed DRINKING THE THAMES: THE GRAND JUNCTION WATER COMPANY. A

Docklands History Group talk by Colin Prior. 5.30pm for 6pm, Museum of London

Docklands, West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, London E14 4AL. New members and

visitors are very welcome. A £2 donation is suggested from visitors. Web:

www.docklandshistorygroup.org.uk

4 April Thur THE THAMES RIVER POLICE: FOREFATHERS OF MODERN POLICING. A London

Canal Museum talk by Martin Wells. 7.30pm. £4 (£3 discounts). 12/13 New Wharf Road,

N1 9RT. Tel: 020 7713 0836. Web: www.canalmuseum.org.uk

LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD

13 April Sat SERIAC. South East Region Industrial Archaeology Conference 2019 at Dartford

Grammar School. Full details from Mike Clinch. Email:

[email protected] Web: www.kentarchaeology.org.uk

9-14 August ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Association for Industrial Archaeology conference at

Bridgwater & Taunton College. https://industrial-archaeology.org/

GLIAS is happy to publicise events by other societies that may be of interest to our members. If you are a

not-for-profit organisation and would like us to list your event, please contact the newsletter editor via email at

[email protected]


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NEWS AND NOTES

ROBERT VICKERS 1948-2018

Many of you know already that I have to announce the death of Robert Vickers in late November. His death in

Harrogate Hospital came very suddenly and was due to complications with the pulmonary fibrosis he had been

diagnosed with mid-year.

Robert first came to London for his first degree which was in History; he then undertook a Diploma in

Librarianship at the University of Aberystwyth. He returned to London and joined the British Library, later

becoming head of the copyright receipt office. He joined GLIAS c.1974 and by 1975 was secretary to the

recording group. His particular interests were motor car production and carriage building. He recorded the

Mulliner Park Ward body works in Willesden, which was a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce. Robert had a keen

interest in Rolls-Royce cars which remained with him.

During this time, he met and later married another GLIAS member, Jill Baulch. He helped get the GLIAS

Journal started and later edited GLIAS Journals 3-5, the last being published in 1995 shortly after he

transferred with the library to its site at Boston Spa in Yorkshire. But he continued his GLIAS membership.

In around 1975 Robert and I decided to compile for GLIAS a series of IA town trails. Summer evenings

found us walking along the then ‘unexplored’ south bank of the Thames, taking notes on the various empty

warehouses, etc, often going from quiet pub to quiet pub. The first of these town trails introducing visitors to

unknown parts of London was published in 1976 and the series sold by the thousand. We were very amused

when a member of his staff had to send Robert a summons for not submitting some GLIAS publications to

the copyright office!

On transferring to Yorkshire in 1992, Robert immediately started to play an active role in the industrial history

section of the then Yorkshire Archaeology Society and was its secretary for many years, becoming in April last

year its chairman. He led the Industrial History section in developing a database of Yorkshire sites, initially

using the GLIAS software. Recently with John Suter, he developed the very impressive Yorkshire Industrial

History Online project. John writes that Robert was the archetypical gentleman, a pleasure to work with at all

times and highly knowledgeable on the subject of Industrial History. His presence and guidance will be greatly

missed within YIHS. Ollie and myself plus many others in GLIAS, who knew Robert, will fully agree. David

Perrett

My thanks to Jill Vickers for correcting a first draft of this note

RED HOUSE COLD STORE, SMITHFIELD

Members will be aware that plans are

progressing to move the Museum of

London into the empty buildings at the

west end of Smithfield Market (GLIAS

Newsletter 286, p7).

The museum is expected only to occupy

the Poultry Market. The basement vaults

there are one of the few vestiges of the

original Horace Jones Poultry Market

(1873-75) building basement that survived

the 1959-63 rebuild.

In October GLIAS members Malcolm

Tucker and myself were asked by Andrew

Coles DipArch RIBA of Julian Harrap

Architects to inspect some of the surviving equipment in the basement and the Red House. The first shipments

of frozen meat from Australia and New Zealand in the 1880s had to be stored in the docks before sale. Later a

small cold store was opened in St Johns Street.

The much bigger Red House is a purpose-built powered cold store, built in 1898-99 in the Neo-Renaissance

style by Reeves & Styche. Relatively little equipment survives with the exception of some large tanks, probably

for refrigeration liquors such as iced/salt water, and considerable amounts of cork insulation materials. There is

one hydraulic jigger. The building has stood derelict and open to the weather for many years and the internal


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flooring, etc, is now very dangerous. It is planned to gut the building using robotic equipment. We would

encourage a fuller report on this complex to be published in the future. David Perrett

STEAMING NEWS

Crossness Engines is set to reopen in March in time to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birthday of Sir

Joseph Bazalgette.

The Beam Engine House had to close in 2017 after asbestos was discovered during restoration works. But

£478,000 was raised by supporters to cover the total cost of the remedial work.

The first Family Open Day with Prince Consort in steam is set for Sunday 31 March.

While the Beam Engine House was closed volunteers focused on other projects including building a 700-metre

railway (RANG) to bring visitors from the car park at the Thames Water entrance.

Web: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/rang-railway www.crossness.org.uk/visit.html

London Museum of Water & Steam, formerly Kew Bridge Steam Museum, has limited steaming of its large

engines, which are in serious need of servicing to replace worn out components. You cannot run Victorian

Cornish engines regularly without major problems developing. The smaller engines, most of which were

transferred there, are still steamable. The newly opened electrical gallery is well worth a visit.

A 45-MINUTE STROLL FROM VAUXHALL TO THE OVAL GAS HOLDERS AND BEYOND

Conservation Watch in the December 2018 Newsletter (GLIAS Newsletter 299, p11) gives proposals for the

gas holders at Kennington Oval. This note describes a few things of interest on a walk between Vauxhall and

Kennington tube stations, passing the holders en route. Don’t leave it too long!

1. Orientation. Stand at the north entrance to Vauxhall railway station and look directly ahead. 150 years ago,

the Phoenix Gas Company’s works alongside the Thames and Effra Creek dominated the view. They had

purchased the site from the South London Waterworks in about 1845. The view is now completely blocked by

high rise buildings. Slightly to the right was the 1826 Vauxhall (toll) bridge to or from relatively well-off

Westminster. It was no coincidence that the railway station entrance faced that way.

2. Bus station. Opened 2004, consolidating roadside stops. Ove Arup & partners; the odd extended slopes

simply hold solar panels. After only five years there was talk of redevelopment and in December 2018 planning

permission was eventually granted for two tower blocks on the site.

Go around the corner, down Bondway a few yards, to the first Rowton House, 1892, which squeezed in 484

beds for single working men, mostly in individual cubicles. Count the windows! 1. The next building, with the

date 1887 in raised brick, was built for Dolan & Co., suppliers of military and police uniforms. The firm’s name

was carried on the buttons – now collectables.

3. Return to the compact station entrance. The station dates from 1848, when the railway line was extended on

viaduct to Waterloo, although the entrance may date from an 1856 rebuild or later. An 1875 map shows a much

larger structure here; it is conjectured that most was simply sacrificed when an extra track on viaduct was built

when the formation was widened, leaving just the road frontage. Later addition(s) on the other side of the station

gave the present eight lines and platforms.

4. Go through the pedestrian arch alongside the booking office to South Lambeth Road. Opposite was a United

Dairies milk pasteurising and bottling plant, 1920s, supplies coming by milk train – initially churns, later tanker

wagons, discharged into pipes at Vauxhall station 2. Cross diagonally left to the traffic island (next to the plain

‘stench pipe’), and glance at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 1869. It recently celebrated 50 years as a gay venue.

Princess Diana allegedly once visited with Kenny Everett and Freddie Mercury.

5. Turn right along Kennington Lane. Just before the ‘Royal Oak’, at 357, is access to a small yard with a slim

three-floor industrial building of the 1920s, converted to architects’ offices in 2014. Continue along Kennington

Lane then right into Durham Street. On the other side, the line of partly rebuilt yellow brick buildings started off

as the New London Brewery in the centre of a row of terraced houses, gradually taking over their roadside sites

as it expanded. The oldest part is the entrance gatehouse and yard office, directly behind the gates (Fig 1). It

became Marmite c.1930 to c.1980 and after several uses (and mis-uses) is Vox Studios 3.


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Fig 1. Yard of former New London Brewery, Jan 2019. Fig 2. Kennington Oval gas holders in use, Jan 1975. From left, part of

frames of 4 and 5; frameless 2, raised but obscured, behind; frame of 3, since demolished; full 1, ‘flying’ above the frame.

6. Back on Kennington Lane, ahead left is St Peters Church (1864). It is open only for Sunday service at 11.00

and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 to 14.00. Well worth seeing. There’s an original T C Lewis organ;

there’s an appeal for money to restore it. A one-time Heritage Centre has closed. Around the far side, some way

down St Oswald’s Place, is the former Lambeth School of Art, though its exterior is far from artistic. Doulton

was involved and Tinworth, who became his star ceramic artist, studied here. Next door was a soup kitchen, run

by the church.

7. Continue along Kennington Lane past obviously new build in Oval Way and right into Vauxhall Road. Ahead

left is one of the two 1875 Phoenix Gas Co holders which sharing one frame column, embellished with the

aforementioned bird and, at the base, the maker’s name, which can be made out with difficulty through the thick

fencing – Samuel Cutler & Sons, 1874, Millwall, London 4. This is holder No 4; No 5 is its Siamese twin.

Holder No 1, the tallest, is of 1879 with an extension, including a ‘flying’ lift, added in 1890/1 5 (Fig 2). No 2

holder is not visible from this point and No 3 had been in the space alongside No 4. Going a bit further, it seems

the only connection the Gasworks arts gallery has with the site is its present name. Almost opposite, in the

courtyard of Brockwell House flats, half a dozen former ARP metal stretchers, once used widely as wall

railings, surround a small play area 6 (Fig 3).

Fig 3. Stretcher railings, Brockwell House. Jan 2019. Fig 4. Kennington Oval gas holders 4 (right) & 5, from Tesco car park. 2014.

8. Returning along Vauxhall Road, the nearest end of a brick building named ‘The Foundry’ shows that the old

toilets were not removed when a new frontage was grafted on, facing Oval Way. When visited on ‘Open House’

in 2015, a guide suggested the name was chosen as sounding dynamic, rather than with historic significance.

There have been several firms in these buildings over the years and more research is needed to see whether there

ever was a foundry.

9. Turn right and continue along Kennington Lane. An article in the South London Press, 24/9/1996, about the

Tesco ‘superstore’ was headed ‘Death Knell for Shops’. True. It in turn is now scheduled for demolition with

proposed replacement by a new store at ground level of a development. Currently open until late Mon – Sat and

16.00 Sundays. Customer toilets are conveniently to the left just inside the door, outside of the check-out. The

car park area gives a good view of all four holders, including the spiral-lift No 2, 1950, which does not need a

frame (Fig 4).


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10. Go round by road, or take a short cut from the car park, to Montford Place. The three-floor brick industrial

building has ‘Established 1820’ carved above the doorway, once the centre of a larger building (Fig 5). This was

occupied by Hayward’s Pickles from about 1906 (Kelly’s Directory), relocating from a nearby site. The building

looks to date from then, but the 1820 date does not make sense, as the firm did not exist at that time. It might

refer to a previous occupant. Beefeater Gin, a brand name of Burroughs, moved here in 1957 and since then has

made substantial alterations, with both additions and demolition. They advertise distillery tours for £15,

bookable on-line, but it is unclear how much of the process itself is seen, as distinct from described. Can any

member give a report?

Fig 5. Montford Close, 1974. Since part demolished and altered. Fig 6. Former NAAFI HQ, now flats, Jan 2019.

11. Return to Kennington Lane and head towards the grand building ahead right (Fig 6). Built 1836 as a

residential school for Licensed Victuallers’ children (swimming pool in 1890 extension). In 1921 it became the

HQ of the NAAFI, which had a depot nearby. By the late 1960s that depot had been mostly converted to offices,

including their main computer suite. NAAFI, which in 1970 had 19,000 employees in 19 countries 7, decided to

consolidate that site and others into a new office block, Edinburgh House, opened in about 1974, a short way

forward, on the left, at Kennington Cross. Times change. An announcement in 2013 said that the NAAFI

organisation would be disbanded.

12. Cross the road to the triangular traffic island and stand on the glass ‘pavement lights’. These allow daylight

into former gents toilets, 1898. After closure there was a scheme for this to be an arts centre, but in January

2019 it appeared completely disused. In 2018 a planning application was made to open it as a wine bar. The

fittings, including a glass-sided cistern and vent pipe, are by B Finch & Co Ltd, whose factory was in Belvedere

Road, South Bank. Any male determined to see/experience their facilities in use can visit ones in … Hull 8.

Nearby is a granite horse trough.

Looking north-west, across Kennington Road, is a retained part of the curved entrance section of the Regal

Cinema, opened 1937 and subsequently Granada before closing as a bingo hall in 1997.

13. Now looking north-east, on 357 Kennington Lane, next to the ornate Durning Library is a faded painted sign

advertising Writer’s, a firm which occupied this and rear buildings. They made bicycles and later motorcycles

before becoming simply dealers. Ariel was a bicycle name, retained 9.

Continue along Kennington Lane and turn into White Hart Street, and ahead via the footpath to Kennings Way.

The wall alongside the former LCC housing estate on the right has more metal stretcher railings 6. Relatively

new housing on the left covers part of the site of the NAAFI’s depot. Just before reaching Kennington Park

Road, is part of the City & Guilds School of Art, successor to the Lambeth School of Art. The distinctive dome

above Kennington tube station is on the left, across the road. The exterior of the surface buildings remains

largely as built when it opened in 1890 for the City & South London Railway. The dome covered the lift

mechanism. David Thomas

References

1. ‘Rowton Houses, 1892-1954’, Michael Sheridan. More on Rowton Houses in GLIAS Newsletter 233, Dec 2007.

2. ‘Old Surviving Firms of South London’, Steven Harris, 1987.

3. From OS maps, Kelly’s Directories, Wiki and newspaper cuttings.

4. Saml Cutler. Some of the firm’s advertisements are reproduced in Grace’s Guide. 5. Detailed info mostly from Malcolm Tucker. KM Heritage Report prepared in anticipation of site redevelopment. This has key

dates and facts about the holders. Available on internet.


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6. See GLIAS Newsletter 294, Feb 2018, re Stretcher Railings Society.

7. ‘NAAFI Reports 50 Years of Service’, 1971. An enlarged annual report, not a publication as such.

8. Tiles & Architectural Ceramic Society Gazetteer for Yorkshire. 1902. See also GLIAS Newsletter October 2014.

9. ‘Caroline’s Miscellany: Ghost signs.’ From internet.

FACELIFT FOR VICTORIAN ‘STURGEON’ LAMPPOSTS

The historic lamp columns that line the Victoria Embankment are set to be refurbished in the run-up to its 150th

anniversary next year.

The cast-iron lampposts were installed along the river wall upon the completion of the Embankment and became

known as ‘sturgeons’ because of their fish design.

The Grade II lamps, designed by George John Vulliamy, were originally gas-lit, before being converted to

electric early in the 20th century.

Westminster council is spending £1.2 million to reveal the original ornate detail which has been obscured by

coats of paint over the years. The columns are being removed to be grit-blasted back to the bare metal, before

being repaired and repainted.

References

David Perrett referred to these lampposts in GLIAS London Industrial Archaeology No 16, May 2018, p51. The lamps were

manufactured in Coalbrookdale.

MERIDIAN WATER RAILWAY STATION

Work is now in progress to build this new station in Edmonton at TQ 351 921. Designed by a team including

ARUP, Atkins and architects KCA it will have three platforms and a footbridge accessed by lifts and stairs. As

well as new retail space there will be provision for a fourth platform to accommodate the proposed Crossrail 2.

Partly beneath the Meridian Way A406 flyover, Meridian Water station is near Conduit Lane and close to

industrial businesses and a former gas works. Due to open later this year, this new railway station will replace

Angel Road station, quite close by at TQ 352 923 and is expected to serve up to 4 million passengers. Bob Carr

NORTHUMBERLAND PARK PUMPING STATION

Travelling south by train from Angel Road the next station we come to is Northumberland Park, in Tottenham.

Roughly 200 yards to the southeast of here at TQ 350 908 is a relatively little-known late Victorian pumping

station built to provide pure drinking water for Tottenham. As well as Northumberland Park, it can also be

known as Long Water or Marsh Lane and in times past just The Park pumping station. It is now in a very

serious situation and in fact may no longer exist by the time you read this.

The whole area round the pumping station building is now being used to park Go Ahead buses – see

photograph. The building is only listed locally.


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The work of constructing this pumping station started about 1886. The building is quite lofty, almost three

storeys high, and in some ways rather atypical. It might be compared with the now demolished Waddon

pumping station, Croydon TQ 313 639, built in 1910 (GLIAS Newsletter 86).

The pumping engines at Northumberland Park were two 75 hp compound horizontal surface condensing engines

by Ward Bros of Sowerby Bridge. Working at 13 strokes per minute the total pumping capacity was 648,000

gallons over 24 hours. Bob Carr

MILK TRAINS TO SOUTH LONDON

Until rail tank wagons were introduced in the 1930s, milk trains were made up of vans carrying churns. There

was a residual churn business until milk carrying ceased.

The Southern Railway Magazine for September 1930 records the number of churns ‘dealt with’ at what are

described as ‘milk receiving deports’ in the 12 months to June as:

- Clapham Junction: 1,176,295

- Vauxhall: 526,752

- Forest Hill: 368,864

- Waterloo: 182,058

- Tulse Hill: 131,794

- Norwood Junction: 61,741

- Victoria: 21,308

- London Bridge: 1,462

- Charing Cross: 1,082.

At Vauxhall a United Dairies bottling and pasteurising plant was erected (pictured below left, in 1978) close to

the station and in the era of tank wagons those were placed at Platform 1, being connected via hoses to holding

tanks, whence the milk was piped to the dairy. A railway enthusiast website says holding tanks at the station had

also been used for milk poured from churns, but this has not been verified. The Clapham Junction total is

astounding – an average of over 3,200 churns every day. Can anyone add info about where the milk went

(flowed?), and how?

In the 1960s there was also a facility for unloading milk tank wagons at Morden, but those were from the Great

Western Railway system. Did milk also previously arrive here in churns? David Thomas

Meanwhile, the former Dairy Supply Company premises at 30 Coptic Street and 35 Little Russell Street

(above right) have been listed Grade II.

Originally constructed in 1888 for the manufacture of milk churns, 30 Coptic Street was sold to Pizza Express in

1965 while 35 Little Russell Street has until recently been used for housing the Cartoon Museum.

The Dairy Supply Company made 17-gallon galvanised iron containers, designed for transporting milk by rail.

The company was heavily associated with George Barnham, who invented the containers and went on to

become chair of the British Dairy Farmers Association.

The original signage, made of Portland stone, is still intact (GLIAS Newsletter 95), featuring ornate brick

decoration which advertised the Dairy Supply Company Limited.


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Also recently listed are the cattle trough and drinking fountain, Spaniards Road, Hampstead (Grade II); the

Assembly Rooms, Charlton (Grade II); while the pedestrian subway, vestibule, terrace and stairs beneath Crystal

Palace Parade have been upgraded to Grade II*.

https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/23-remarkable-places-listed-in-2018/

LEWISHAM LIBRARY

This library in Lewisham High Street is a good

example of the clean-styled architecture of its

period, probably late 1950s when, disgusted by

Victorian vulgarity, design aspired to Georgian

simplicity.

The library is unlikely to have been the work of a

big-name architect and is probably not even listed

locally. It is now being proposed to refurbish or

rebuild the building* and it is to be hoped that due

respect will be paid to the original design. Many

buildings in this style were erected in our towns and

cities 60 years ago but not being especially

outstanding they have gradually been disappearing

from our streets and it is important to keep some

representative examples. Bob Carr

* The Lewisham Ledger, December 2018 - January 2019, news page 9.

This building may not have been built as a library but converted in the early 1980s? Can anyone supply more

information?

EROS HOUSE, CATFORD

Built 1960-63 and listed grade II, Eros House, an office block now converted into flats, was designed by Rodney

Gordon and Owen Luder. The name comes from the old Eros Theatre in Brownhill Road which it replaced.

Owen Luder (1928- ) has asked for the commemorative plaques on this award-winning building to be removed

in protest at its current ‘disgraceful’ condition. Externally the staircase-tower, which has a strong presence, is

the only surviving feature – the Gordon & Luder façade of Eros House has been radically altered. Bob Carr

THE PRINCES RISBOROUGH CONNECTION

At Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire

passengers from London Marylebone can now

just change trains across a platform onto a steam-

hauled train on the Chinnor & Princes

Risborough Railway (CPRR). An entirely

volunteer workforce has been reinstating

platform 4 at Risboro’ and the work was

completed in August 2018. This handy

connection was officially opened on Wednesday

15 August 2018.

A Chiltern Railways Turbo train carrying VIP

guests from London ran through to Chinnor via

Princes Risborough. The chairman of Network

Rail Sir Peter Hendy said ‘The connection of the

CPRR with the National Railway Network will

generate environmentally friendly rail-based tourism on the closest preserved railway to London. Network Rail

congratulates the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway for this extension – it will be a privilege to ride on the

first public train.’

For people interested in birds, red kites are abundant in and around Chinnor. Bob Carr

AIA RESEARCH GRANT

The Association for Industrial Archaeology has launched a new research grant scheme to:


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- encourage individual researchers to study industrial archaeology subjects

- encourage the development of industrial archaeology skills within commercial units, the main

repository of professional skills in the subject

- support local industrial archaeology and industrial heritage societies in exploring and understanding

their local areas

- help to develop the next generation of industrial archaeologists

The total fund available in any single year is £1,500 and multiple grants may be given up to this maximum in a

single year. The AIA may consider part-funding a wider grant application or project as long as the AIA grant is

a significant part of the larger application / project.

To download full details and an application form visit: https://industrial-archaeology.org/wp-

content/uploads/2018/10/Research-Grant-Award-Application-form.docx

DISMANTLING OF LONDON BRIDGE

My late father-in-law Ron Huitson (GLIAS Newsletter 122) worked all his life at Adelaide House on the

north side of London Bridge. He filmed the dismantling of London Bridge before its despatch to Lake Havasu

City in California. He died in 1986. I am trying to track that film down. Ron’s son Peter (my brother-in-law) has

kept some of my father-in-law’s films but thinks that the family may have donated the film of London Bridge to

the GLIAS back in the late 1980s. Do any members have that film and, if so, could we obtain a copy?

David Seymour. Email: [email protected]

ALEXANDRA PARK AND PALACE CONSERVATION AREA ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WANTED: architects, planners, conservationists, historians – with an interest in the heritage and conservation

of Alexandra Park and Palace!

Wanted because the Alexandra Park and Palace Conservation Area Advisory Committee (APPCAAC) is

looking to recruit new members with appropriate skills. The role of the committee is to advise the council’s

planning department on planning applications that have an impact on the Park and Palace. Membership is

voluntary and not limited to those who live close to APP.

In terms of industrial archaeology, Alexandra Palace is important mostly because of the original BBC

Television Studios there and site of the world’s first regular TV broadcast service, which commenced there in

1936. GLIAS members may recall the somewhat controversial plans in 2014 for restoration of the eastern

end of the Palace (GLIAS Newsletter 290, pp5-6). That £27 million scheme (mostly funded by the HLF) was

for restoration of the Victorian Theatre, the East Court and the Studios. However, due to cost overruns and

budgeting errors, the Studios part of the plan was abandoned early on and they remain in semi derelict

condition. It is to be expected that there will be a further plan for the Studios and it would be good to have a

strengthened industrial archaeological presence on the APPCAAC at that time.

If you feel this invitation is something for you, or if you wish to nominate someone else, please contact me, Colin

Marr (committee chairman) and I can let you know more about what is involved. Thanks, Colin

[email protected]


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GLIAS@50

GLIAS celebrates its 50th year this year, starting with the next Newsletter in April and the AGM in May.

Full details of the programme of celebratory events and activities will be given in the next Newsletter. During

the year we shall be including an additional feature in the Newsletter with members’ reminiscences and thoughts

on a particular theme. The theme for the April Newsletter will be minor industrial relics and ephemera that have

disappeared over the last 50 years, either substantially or completely. An example would be London Hydraulic

Power Company valve boxes. We would welcome short pieces from regular contributors but we would also like

to encourage thoughts from members who don’t often contribute. GLIAS Committee

NEXT ISSUE

GLIAS welcomes articles for publication in the newsletter. These should be about 500 words or less. Images

can accompany articles (although copyright may have to be considered).

Longer articles may be more suitable for the GLIAS Journal.

Please send any contributions for April’s newsletter by 15 March.

secretary: brian strong, 14 eversleigh road, new barnet, herts … · 2019-02-03 · 9 march sat...

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