Save King's Yard!

10.49.19pm GMT Mon 23rd Jul 2007

Tom Ridge outside the starch works at Kings Yard

Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats are supporting the call by respected heritage campaigner Tom Ridge to save the group of 8 Edwardian industrial buildings known as King's Yard from demolition as part of the Olympics development. Mr Ridge and Cllr Stephanie Eaton, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Tower Hamlets Council, met with the Olympics Development Authority to urge the retention of these historic and architecturally unique buildings.

The unusual criss-cross structures of the Belfast trusses give strength to the roof without the need for pillars.

King's Yard is the only fully surviving example of Clarnico's six pre-WW2 works in Old Ford and Hackney Wick, where 3000 employees made sweets, chocolates and lozenges for national and world markets. It is one of London's few surviving Edwardian works, complete with boiler house and stable block. Among many interesting and unusual architectural features the buildings contain 'transitional structures' e.g. two early internal steel frames with integrated timber queen post roof structures in the former starch department, and steel girders on ground-floor cast-iron columns in the former preserving and lozenge departments. The buildings include one of the few surviving works in England with Belfast truss roofs used to provide an unbroken space for equipment (see photograph at left).

The complex provides excellent built evidence of the time when the East End fed, clothed and furnished the world and is vital to understanding the history of the people who lived and worked here.

Speaking after the meeting with the ODA, Cllr Eaton said "While we are completely supportive of the Olympics and the benefits it will bring to Tower Hamlets, these cannot be at the cost of demolishing our heritage. The King's Yard buildings are beautiful, unique and their structures tell a story about London's past which helps us to understand the present. These buildings give us an ability to see what shaped the economy, culture and character of the city."

Mr Ridge and others will be objecting to the proposal to demolish the majority of the buildings at a meeting of the ODA on August 14. If you wish to support the campaign please contact Cllr Eaton on Stephanie.Eaton@towerhamlets.gov.uk or phone 07941 303 976.