Derelict London 2022 Update Page
Welcome to the Derelict London 2022 page. It's all a bit DIY this website as I've been adding bits all along the past 19 years. I was brought up on fanzines and prefer the non-polished look.
Join the mailing list HERE to find out about Derelict London, London's Lost Music Venues and London's Lost Rivers guided walks as soon as tickets are released, plus news on my latest books and website updates. Paul Talling's walks have been awarded the 'We're Good to Go' 2022 Industry Standard by Visit England to reassure customers that the tours adhere to Government and public health guidance. Please note that my public walks do not involve entering any trespassing in buildings.
Join the mailing list HERE to find out about Derelict London, London's Lost Music Venues and London's Lost Rivers guided walks as soon as tickets are released, plus news on my latest books and website updates. Paul Talling's walks have been awarded the 'We're Good to Go' 2022 Industry Standard by Visit England to reassure customers that the tours adhere to Government and public health guidance. Please note that my public walks do not involve entering any trespassing in buildings.
The Towers - The Bishops Avenue, N2
The Bishops Avenue aka Billionaires' Row, N2
The Bishops Avenue connects the north side of Hampstead Heath at Kenwood to East Finchley. The Bishops Avenue is home to monarchs, business magnates, and celebrities. Despite being considered to be one of the wealthiest streets in the world and nicknamed "Billionaires' Row" there are a surprising number of properties that have derelict for several decades. Many of the properties are registered to companies in tax havens including the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Panama, and the Channel Islands.
The Towers - 53, The Bishops Avenue, N2
The Towers - The Bishops Avenue, N2
Popular actress and singer Gracie Fields lived on this site in a mansion called Tower from 1929 until the early 1930s. Built by her husband Archie, it was named in honour of the stage show, Mr Tower of London, that had made her famous. By 1937 she was the highest-paid film star in the world.
Now the story varies a bit here, but some sources say that Gracie donated the property to charity after splitting with Archie, and it became a maternity home which was demolished by the 1990s and a new mansion called the Towers built on the land but further back from the road as the new owner wanted to have a driveway in front of the house to enable 50 cars for guests for anticipated parties. The mansion was owned by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia - one of many homes on the road bought by the Saudi royal family in 1989 as a safe place to invest assets due to political instability, which later resulted in Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the first Gulf War. Complications arose with the Council at the time as the mansion with 4 master bedrooms,9 smaller suites, banqueting hall and basement pool complex was put up without planning permission. Nobody has lived here for decades, if at all.
A 2014 video shot inside The Towers by The Guardian showed a consignment of unopened bullet-proof glass propped against a wall. However, on my visit there were hardly any contents apart from some wrecked bedroom furniture.
The current owner is believed to be a company registered in the tax haven of the Isle of Man.
NOTE: Entry is not recommended as the building is extremely dangerous due to being in an unstable condition.
Now the story varies a bit here, but some sources say that Gracie donated the property to charity after splitting with Archie, and it became a maternity home which was demolished by the 1990s and a new mansion called the Towers built on the land but further back from the road as the new owner wanted to have a driveway in front of the house to enable 50 cars for guests for anticipated parties. The mansion was owned by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia - one of many homes on the road bought by the Saudi royal family in 1989 as a safe place to invest assets due to political instability, which later resulted in Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the first Gulf War. Complications arose with the Council at the time as the mansion with 4 master bedrooms,9 smaller suites, banqueting hall and basement pool complex was put up without planning permission. Nobody has lived here for decades, if at all.
A 2014 video shot inside The Towers by The Guardian showed a consignment of unopened bullet-proof glass propped against a wall. However, on my visit there were hardly any contents apart from some wrecked bedroom furniture.
The current owner is believed to be a company registered in the tax haven of the Isle of Man.
NOTE: Entry is not recommended as the building is extremely dangerous due to being in an unstable condition.
Oak Lodge - 54,The Bishops Avenue, N2
Oak Lodge - 54,The Bishops Avenue, N2
Oak Lodge was built in 1927 and was another property purchased by the Saudi royal family before the first Gulf War. The property was left vacant and fell into dereliction and sold in 2018 for £18 million. Permission to demolish was granted during the 1990s, though that lapsed and a proposal in 2018 to demolish it and replace it with a Beverley Hills style mansion was refused as the building is now locally listed as a “building of local architectural or historical interest”. Oak Lodge was designed by John Soutar a Scottish-born architect who is particularly associated with the arts and crafts design of buildings in Hampstead Garden Suburb.
Still empty after more than 30 years the latest plans are to renovate Oak Lodge as the centrepiece of proposals among a development of 30 new build apartments with an on-site gym, swimming pool and spa and underground car parking retaining the existing tennis court on the site set within a landscaped garden.
Still empty after more than 30 years the latest plans are to renovate Oak Lodge as the centrepiece of proposals among a development of 30 new build apartments with an on-site gym, swimming pool and spa and underground car parking retaining the existing tennis court on the site set within a landscaped garden.
Some more Bishops Avenue 'opportunities'
Join me, Derelict London on a tour of the area walking down Billionaire's Row looking at the exteriors (no trespassing is involved) and talking about owners past and present on this infamous street.
Stoke Newington, N16
Harefield Chalk Quarry Works - Harefield, UB9
Harefield Chalk Quarry Works - Harefield, UB9
Along the Grand Union Canal right on the edge of the London Borough of Hillingdon just before you get to Hertfordshire is this former quarry works. Many have labelled this on the net as the Harefield Limeworks though on various old maps from the 1870s to the 1970s the site is only identified as a chalk quarry and there seems to be no historical documents about any limeworks. Chalk is a type of limestone, but I have as yet to find any historical reference to limestone or burning chalk to form quick lime (calcium oxide). What we can agree on is that these days everyone nicknames it the Hanging Monkey due to the large monkey dangling from a chain high up the high steel frame of an old building overlooking the Canal.
The Hanging Monkey at Harefield Chalk Quarry Works - Harefield, UB9
There is evidence of shafts and chutes where the chalk was loaded onto waggons on a narrow gauge railway. Some track is still visible inside a dangerous looking tunnel. The site was accessible by road and by canal.
The chalk pits in this vicinity doubled as alien landscapes in TV productions and were used for filming Blakes 7 during the 1970s and Doctor Who episodes The Three Doctors (William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton & Jon Pertwee, 1972) and Earthshock (Peter Davison,1982). Since the pits closed they were used as a landfill site which has subsequently closed. Nobody knows just how the stuffed monkey got there or more recently the Superman bear with a mask and a cape suspended in a kayak from one of the gilders with attached flag with the inscription 'TEAM GB'
Recent proposals to demolish the existing derelict industrial building and constructing 9 four-storey residential town houses were refused.
The chalk pits in this vicinity doubled as alien landscapes in TV productions and were used for filming Blakes 7 during the 1970s and Doctor Who episodes The Three Doctors (William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton & Jon Pertwee, 1972) and Earthshock (Peter Davison,1982). Since the pits closed they were used as a landfill site which has subsequently closed. Nobody knows just how the stuffed monkey got there or more recently the Superman bear with a mask and a cape suspended in a kayak from one of the gilders with attached flag with the inscription 'TEAM GB'
Recent proposals to demolish the existing derelict industrial building and constructing 9 four-storey residential town houses were refused.
Final Resting Place for Mattresses - Crayford, DA1
The Jolly Sailor - South Norwood, SE25
The Jolly Sailor - South Norwood, SE25
Not so jolly now... The Jolly Sailor closed in late 2019. A cruel review on Beer in the Evening described it as "a local pub for local people, like the Slaughtered Lamb in American Werewolf" but in my limited experience it was not a bad little boozer and the landlady Val was friendly enough and invited me to a free BBQ a few days later. The blue and purple 1990s lighting was the only thing that didn't endear me to the pub. Especially popular with Palace fans on match days, it showed footie on the screen, darts and a pool table. Evening attractions included karaoke and sometimes live bands playing SKA and reggae.
The pub has an illustrious history. Opened in 1810 beside the newly opened Croydon Canal, and subsequently rebuilt in its current form in the late 1860s. Rumours abound of a haunted cellar once used by smugglers to stash illegal goods, and the original building had a boxing gym upstairs. The London and Sporting Chronicle in 1828, covered a prize fight between Ned Savage and Peter Sweeney – who trained at the Jolly Sailor – described a bloody affair which took place on the banks of the canal, detrimentally affecting local sensibilities.
The pub has an illustrious history. Opened in 1810 beside the newly opened Croydon Canal, and subsequently rebuilt in its current form in the late 1860s. Rumours abound of a haunted cellar once used by smugglers to stash illegal goods, and the original building had a boxing gym upstairs. The London and Sporting Chronicle in 1828, covered a prize fight between Ned Savage and Peter Sweeney – who trained at the Jolly Sailor – described a bloody affair which took place on the banks of the canal, detrimentally affecting local sensibilities.
Rear view of the Jolly Sailor - South Norwood, SE25
The Croydon Canal opened in 1809 & enabled lime, timber, chalk and agricultural produce to be sent to London in exchange for coal being handled to Croydon, then an ancient market town. The canal was beset with problems as it had 28 locks between New Cross and Honor Oak, a stretch of just over 2 miles. These locks were costly to maintain, and caused queues & congestion for the barges waiting to negotiate them. The canal was a financial failure and closed in 1836 and the railway line from London Bridge to Croydon was built, generally following the route of the canal. South Norwood's first station opened in 1839 and was located between what is now Manor Road and upper part of the High Street. The station was originally named the Jolly Sailor after this pub but renamed Norwood in 1846. In 1859, the station moved to its present site in Station Road and is now known as Norwood Junction.
Obvious to say, this pub is covered on my guided walking tours along the route of the Croydon Canal. Unsubstantiated rumours are that the premises are being marketed for prospective new tenants.
Obvious to say, this pub is covered on my guided walking tours along the route of the Croydon Canal. Unsubstantiated rumours are that the premises are being marketed for prospective new tenants.
Stepney, E1
North Dene - Beckenham BR3
North Dene - Beckenham BR3
Beckenham Place Park is a large park located in SE London. A Palladian-style mansion that gave the park its name now serves as a community centre and café. To the south of the park is a private road of the same name with some rather large houses.
North Dene dating back to at least the early 1930s has been empty for many years. The 1970s electoral register records various voters in up to 5 separately identified flats, though nothing is recorded after 1981. The remains of furniture suggest later (perhaps unauthorised) occupation.
North Dene dating back to at least the early 1930s has been empty for many years. The 1970s electoral register records various voters in up to 5 separately identified flats, though nothing is recorded after 1981. The remains of furniture suggest later (perhaps unauthorised) occupation.
North Dene - Beckenham BR3
In June 2021 two separate mysterious fires within one week significantly damaged North Dene and smoke could be seen for miles around according to the local press. The fires had spread from burning mattresses. Now the place is secured with several rings of fencing and as you can see from these latest photographs the building is looking in a very sorry and hazardous state.
NOTE: Entry is not recommended as the building is extremely dangerous due to being in an unstable condition.
NOTE: Entry is not recommended as the building is extremely dangerous due to being in an unstable condition.
Broken windows, charred wood, mutilated fireplaces, collapsed ceilings, cracked tiles, collapsed stairs and debris make this once grand old residence a sad sight. Not to mention the dumped Mercedes in the undergrowth.
Limehouse, E14
Percy Ingle Family Bakers - Bethnal Green, E2 and Canning Town, E16
Ingles Family Bakers - Bethnal Green, E2
We all like a Greggs, but my personal preference was Percy Ingles for a bit of an old-fashioned ambience without the high prices of modern-day artisan hipster bakers.
Like his father and grandfather, Percy started his working life in the family bakers in Hackney along with his 3 brothers. In 1954 Percy started his own business with his first shop in Clarence Rd, Hackney, building the company to 40 shops by the 1990s and in 2000 handed control to his son Derek who opened a few extra shops bringing the total to 50 outlets in (mainly) East London and Essex. He passed the running on to his sons Paul and Michael in 2010. The bakery was in Leyton.
To mark its 65th birthday, the business rebranded as Ingles at some of its stores. In 2020, the bakers announced closure of all its stores after 66 years. Reasons for closure given to the press included steep increases in running costs including rents, rates, wages and utilities. Despite increasing turnovers, the company had recently been operating at a loss, and perhaps the Covid lockdown was a final straw. Maybe other reasons too according to an ex-employee....
On the positive side, we still have Wenzels, a bakers established in 1975. They have over 60 stores (though only north of the River and in Essex and Herts) going strong, and they plan to open another 20 stores
Like his father and grandfather, Percy started his working life in the family bakers in Hackney along with his 3 brothers. In 1954 Percy started his own business with his first shop in Clarence Rd, Hackney, building the company to 40 shops by the 1990s and in 2000 handed control to his son Derek who opened a few extra shops bringing the total to 50 outlets in (mainly) East London and Essex. He passed the running on to his sons Paul and Michael in 2010. The bakery was in Leyton.
To mark its 65th birthday, the business rebranded as Ingles at some of its stores. In 2020, the bakers announced closure of all its stores after 66 years. Reasons for closure given to the press included steep increases in running costs including rents, rates, wages and utilities. Despite increasing turnovers, the company had recently been operating at a loss, and perhaps the Covid lockdown was a final straw. Maybe other reasons too according to an ex-employee....
On the positive side, we still have Wenzels, a bakers established in 1975. They have over 60 stores (though only north of the River and in Essex and Herts) going strong, and they plan to open another 20 stores
Still Loved - Whitechapel, E1