Derelict London Homes
- Flats and Houses North of the River Thames
- Flats and Houses North of the River Thames
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. Since these photographs were taken in 2022 the building has suffered a fire.
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. Since these photographs were taken in 2022 the building has suffered a fire.
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.Since these photographs were taken in 2022 the building has suffered a fire.
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.Since these photographs were taken in 2022 the building has suffered a fire.
Some more Bishops Avenue 'opportunities'
The Bishop's Avenue connects the north side of Hampstead Heath to East Finchley. It is considered to be one of the wealthiest streets in the world - maybe London's answer to Beverly Hills? The road is often referred to by its nickname of "Millionaires' Row" or "Billionaires' Row".
In 2006, the smallest houses in the street were selling for £5 million while a larger house sold to the President of Kazakhstan for £50 million in 2008. It is understood the Saudi Royal Family owned ten of the street's properties, with other billionaire owners believed to be the Sultan of Brunei and Britain's richest man, Lakshmi Mittal. The houses are undeniably luxurious, but many of the modern mansions just shows that money can't buy good taste. You can see Aston Martins & Bentleys within many of the landscaped grounds though many driveways are empty and covered with moss with no signs of life within the gates at all. Whilst these rich people own these houses they don't often live in some of them and many houses sit vacant sometimes with caretakers and security or some are left to decay. The trend seems to be to buy a vacant building and rather than do it up just demolish it and build another mansion.
The Bishops Avenue has always invited intrigue. In 1984, Greek Cypriot fashion tycoon Aristos Constantinou was shot dead in his private chapel. In the early Nineties, the street lost another prominent resident when Asil Nadir fled to Northern Cyprus to escape charges of theft totalling £34 million
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.
In 2006, the smallest houses in the street were selling for £5 million while a larger house sold to the President of Kazakhstan for £50 million in 2008. It is understood the Saudi Royal Family owned ten of the street's properties, with other billionaire owners believed to be the Sultan of Brunei and Britain's richest man, Lakshmi Mittal. The houses are undeniably luxurious, but many of the modern mansions just shows that money can't buy good taste. You can see Aston Martins & Bentleys within many of the landscaped grounds though many driveways are empty and covered with moss with no signs of life within the gates at all. Whilst these rich people own these houses they don't often live in some of them and many houses sit vacant sometimes with caretakers and security or some are left to decay. The trend seems to be to buy a vacant building and rather than do it up just demolish it and build another mansion.
The Bishops Avenue has always invited intrigue. In 1984, Greek Cypriot fashion tycoon Aristos Constantinou was shot dead in his private chapel. In the early Nineties, the street lost another prominent resident when Asil Nadir fled to Northern Cyprus to escape charges of theft totalling £34 million
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.
Uxbridge, UB10 - RAF Uxbridge
Former Married Quarters at RAF Uxbridge
Amazing to find overgrown residential streets in London these days.
This former Royal Air Force station in Uxbridge (up in the London Borough of Hillingdon) was occupied by the RAF since 1918. The station is best known as the HQ of No. 11 Group RAF, which was responsible for the aerial defence of London during the Battle of Britain. It was here that Winston Churchill first said, "Never in the history of mankind has so much been owed by so many to so few", which he repeated in a speech to Parliament 4 days later.
This former Royal Air Force station in Uxbridge (up in the London Borough of Hillingdon) was occupied by the RAF since 1918. The station is best known as the HQ of No. 11 Group RAF, which was responsible for the aerial defence of London during the Battle of Britain. It was here that Winston Churchill first said, "Never in the history of mankind has so much been owed by so many to so few", which he repeated in a speech to Parliament 4 days later.
Abandoned living room at RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge closed in 2010 with permission granted to develop 110 acres of the site with over new 1,300 homes many of which have been constructed and occupied already and known as St Andrew's Park.
Many of the old married quarters on the base are in the last phase of the development have not been demolished yet. The streets of houses, photographed here, having been vacant for 10 years are still standing with nature really taking over, for the moment at least. Thistles, brambles, butterflies, birds & foxes make these crumbling abandoned streets an interesting visit though on site security, likely asbestos issues, uncovered deep drain holes hidden by undergrowth, falling masonry, etc make this exploration one where the old disclaimer comes in of not recommending that people attempt to enter this site. Enjoy the pics!
Many of the old married quarters on the base are in the last phase of the development have not been demolished yet. The streets of houses, photographed here, having been vacant for 10 years are still standing with nature really taking over, for the moment at least. Thistles, brambles, butterflies, birds & foxes make these crumbling abandoned streets an interesting visit though on site security, likely asbestos issues, uncovered deep drain holes hidden by undergrowth, falling masonry, etc make this exploration one where the old disclaimer comes in of not recommending that people attempt to enter this site. Enjoy the pics!
Green Park Chambers - Mayfair, W1
Green Park Chambers - Mayfair, W1
I have passed this corner block dating from 1883 so many times over the years and have indeed photographed it many times but, for no particular reason, never got around to putting it on this website. As far as I can recall the 10 flats above have been empty since 1999 though the ground level was restored in 2015 and contained small shops for a few years before closing in 2019. Not surprisingly the building is on Historic England’s Register of Buildings at Risk, being in a considerable state of disrepair.
In 2010, Green Park Chambers (aka 90–93 Piccadilly) and its adjoining buildings - Cambridge House (a Grade I listed former town house), 42 Half Moon Street, 95 Piccadilly (the former American Club) and 12 White Horse Street, as well as 96–100 Piccadilly (on the other side of White Horse Street), all collectively referred to as the Piccadilly Estate were sold for £130m+. Green Park Chambers is to be renovated and converted into 6 residential luxury apartments. Though in this area it is pretty obvious that these would be described as luxury apartments. They must have been quite posh from the onset as the Morning Post in 1888 reports of the death of 36-year-old Lord Douglas William Cope Gordon, fourth son of Charles, tenth Marquis of Huntly, which occurred at his residence in Green Park Chambers after several weeks' illness following a fall whilst hunting. Once a captain in the Coldstream Guards he served for some years as a Liberal MP.
In 2010, Green Park Chambers (aka 90–93 Piccadilly) and its adjoining buildings - Cambridge House (a Grade I listed former town house), 42 Half Moon Street, 95 Piccadilly (the former American Club) and 12 White Horse Street, as well as 96–100 Piccadilly (on the other side of White Horse Street), all collectively referred to as the Piccadilly Estate were sold for £130m+. Green Park Chambers is to be renovated and converted into 6 residential luxury apartments. Though in this area it is pretty obvious that these would be described as luxury apartments. They must have been quite posh from the onset as the Morning Post in 1888 reports of the death of 36-year-old Lord Douglas William Cope Gordon, fourth son of Charles, tenth Marquis of Huntly, which occurred at his residence in Green Park Chambers after several weeks' illness following a fall whilst hunting. Once a captain in the Coldstream Guards he served for some years as a Liberal MP.
St John's Wood, NW8 - Empty House
St John's Wood, NW8 - Empty House (2019)
This substantial house that sits on Avenue Road (not far from Regents Park) described by estate agents as one of the most desirable streets in St John's Wood has been empty for over 15 years. The now derelict property is being marketed as a development opportunity with potential to replace it with up to 20 apartments.
I cannot find much gossip on this property such as who lived here or why it has been vacant so long, although I am aware that the lease has less than 40 years to run and negotiations to extend the lease or buy the freehold have, so far, been successful.
I cannot find much gossip on this property such as who lived here or why it has been vacant so long, although I am aware that the lease has less than 40 years to run and negotiations to extend the lease or buy the freehold have, so far, been successful.
West Hendon, NW9 - West Hendon Estate
West Hendon, NW9 - West Hendon Estate (2019)
The West Hendon Estate in the Borough of Barnet, completed by the Council in the early 1970s, sits between the A5 Edgware Road and the Welsh Harp Reservoir, a nature reserve notable for 253 species of birds.
The estate was built using the Bison large panel system of construction (pre-cast concrete panels) which from the outset suffered numerous technical problems. The 680 flats and houses which formed interlocking courtyards continued to deteriorate, eventually leading Barnet Council to seek to demolish this estate in stages ultimately resulting in 2100+ new flats of which 256 will be for social rental.
The development is a partnership between Barratt, Metropolitan Housing & Barnet Council was agreed in 2006. The District Valuation Service said that the land was worth £12.3m. However, because the developer had to provide affordable homes on the site, the restricted value, which means there are conditions attached, was placed at just £3.
Tenants are being decanted out in stages - some to a new build block nearby though many have lost their views over the reservoir. Leaseholders have been subject to compulsory purchase orders and feel that they are being forced out of the area as the money offered for their old flat is less than half of that required to buy one of the new builds.
Back in 2011 I did some work on this housing estate. As secure tenants passed away or simply moved on by choice the council permitted the housing association to rent out those vacant flats on short term tenancies at full market rents via a local estate agent. Maintenance on the doomed estate was kept to a minimum much to the concern of both the old and new tenants alike.It was said that some of the newcomers were not well vetted resulting in antisocial behaviour.
There is an interesting BBC documentary called 'The Estate We're In' all about the plight of the residents of the West Hendon Estate.
The estate was built using the Bison large panel system of construction (pre-cast concrete panels) which from the outset suffered numerous technical problems. The 680 flats and houses which formed interlocking courtyards continued to deteriorate, eventually leading Barnet Council to seek to demolish this estate in stages ultimately resulting in 2100+ new flats of which 256 will be for social rental.
The development is a partnership between Barratt, Metropolitan Housing & Barnet Council was agreed in 2006. The District Valuation Service said that the land was worth £12.3m. However, because the developer had to provide affordable homes on the site, the restricted value, which means there are conditions attached, was placed at just £3.
Tenants are being decanted out in stages - some to a new build block nearby though many have lost their views over the reservoir. Leaseholders have been subject to compulsory purchase orders and feel that they are being forced out of the area as the money offered for their old flat is less than half of that required to buy one of the new builds.
Back in 2011 I did some work on this housing estate. As secure tenants passed away or simply moved on by choice the council permitted the housing association to rent out those vacant flats on short term tenancies at full market rents via a local estate agent. Maintenance on the doomed estate was kept to a minimum much to the concern of both the old and new tenants alike.It was said that some of the newcomers were not well vetted resulting in antisocial behaviour.
There is an interesting BBC documentary called 'The Estate We're In' all about the plight of the residents of the West Hendon Estate.
West Hendon, NW9 - West Hendon Estate (2019)
Shoreditch - Flat to let?
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Whitechapel
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Seven Sisters Road - Finsbury Park
Canning Town, E16 -Empty Homes
Canning Town, E16 -Empty Homes
This site of low density residential dwellings on Wouldham Road, Chedworth Close, Rathbone Street and Clarkson Road was a residential area where the residents have been decanted since 2015 and the site is to be cleared for redevelopment. It has a prime location being opposite Canning Town station. The surrounding 4-story blocks were demolished in 2011 and replaced by high-rise apartments.
This is all part of the Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Project by Newham Council.
This site of low density residential dwellings on Wouldham Road, Chedworth Close, Rathbone Street and Clarkson Road was a residential area where the residents have been decanted since 2015 and the site is to be cleared for redevelopment. It has a prime location being opposite Canning Town station. The surrounding 4-story blocks were demolished in 2011 and replaced by high-rise apartments.
This is all part of the Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Project by Newham Council.
Walthamstow E17 - 275 Wood Street
This old residential building built in 1868 consisting of council flats was reported as being structurally unsound in 2011 with major works required to roofing as well as windows, chimney stacks, heating, stairs, plasterwork, kitchens and bathrooms. According to the council, remedial works cost estimates made work unfeasible and a full decant was recommended. Leaks from the roof caused the top floor ceiling to collapse shortly after the decant was completed. Plans are to demolish the building and to build 19 flats that will be managed by Waltham Forest Housing.
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Poplar, E14 - Robin Hood Gardens
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Robin Hood Gardens
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Designed in the late 1960s by architects Alison and Peter Smithson and the council estate was completed in 1972. 213 flats were comprised of two long curved blocks, built from precast concrete slabs, facing each other across a central green space. In the central green area is a small man-made hill. Recently joyriders managed to drive a car up the hill before torching it. There were some terraced houses and low-level flats on the site making the whole site 252 homes.
The landlord is Tower Hamlets Council who has decided the estate is past its sell-by date, and they will be handing it over to Swan Housing Group to replace it with 1,575 new ones. Some locals accuse the council of letting Robin Hood just go to rot. 45 per cent of the new builds will be “affordable” which includes “intermediate” rents being set at up to 80 per cent market rates.
Pictured here in 2016 before demolition, the low-level properties and one of the large blocks have now been demolished, and new flats are being constructed on the site. The other old block is still standing and inhabited by residents. For the moment at least.
The landlord is Tower Hamlets Council who has decided the estate is past its sell-by date, and they will be handing it over to Swan Housing Group to replace it with 1,575 new ones. Some locals accuse the council of letting Robin Hood just go to rot. 45 per cent of the new builds will be “affordable” which includes “intermediate” rents being set at up to 80 per cent market rates.
Pictured here in 2016 before demolition, the low-level properties and one of the large blocks have now been demolished, and new flats are being constructed on the site. The other old block is still standing and inhabited by residents. For the moment at least.
HESTON, TW5 - THE HERMITAGE
This late 15th century thatched timber-framed house near Hounslow was ravaged by fire in 2003 and has decayed considerably since then. The timber frame survives but the building is unstable, and the protective covering is now deteriorating. The council is monitoring the site and has taken several actions against the current owners to make them keep the site tidy and secure.A stalemate has developed between the building's owner and Hounslow Council, which has rejected several planning applications including one for a 55-bed nursing home on the site. The owner, who is now proposing turning the site into a hotel, claims that the building is now beyond repair and would have to be rebuilt from scratch to be restored to its original glory. This building is extremely unsafe and I wouldnt recommend that any Derelict London readers attempt to enter it.
St Mary's Lodge - Stoke Newington, N16
2018 - St Mary's Lodge, Lordship Rd, Stoke Newington, N16
Poor old St Mary’s Lodge. This has featured on the Derelict London website since very the early days and this building's decline has been particularly depressing.
Designed and constructed in 1843 by one of the leading architects of the day, John Young (who also designed the Royal Marsden Hospital), it was built for himself, his wife, their nine children and two servants and incorporates some wonderful architectural flourishes, such as arched windows and terracotta brickwork details. Young enlarged the house in the 1860s and also added an elegant garden at the rear. The Youngs remained at St Mary’s Lodge until John Young’s death in 1877, after which it remained a family home until 1959.
From the early 1960s, the local authority used St Mary’s Lodge as a women’s hostel, offering refuge to up to nine women at a time. The hostel was closed in the mid-1990s and the building and grounds were left unmaintained and unsecured. There was a major fire in 2005 and vandals, squatters and the elements have left the abandoned house and grounds in a poor state. When I last wrote about this site in 2007 I said that St Mary’s Lodge’s future was uncertain - it still is in 2018 but in an even worse condition. After years of unsuccessful negotiations between Hackney Council and owners proposed options as recent as 2017 include restoring the lodge on its own and turning it into a school, or transforming the whole site and also building affordable housing - there is a covenant that the site’s use is restricted to education or community use and was sold at an undervalue because of that covenant. There has been suggestion that the community could negotiate an alternative educational provision in return for allowing the site to be developed for residential purposes providing an income for a school on an alternative site.
St Mary's Lodge as pictured below by Derelict London in 2018 (thumbnails to right of main picture). Note that this site is extremely dangerous and entry is ill -advised
Designed and constructed in 1843 by one of the leading architects of the day, John Young (who also designed the Royal Marsden Hospital), it was built for himself, his wife, their nine children and two servants and incorporates some wonderful architectural flourishes, such as arched windows and terracotta brickwork details. Young enlarged the house in the 1860s and also added an elegant garden at the rear. The Youngs remained at St Mary’s Lodge until John Young’s death in 1877, after which it remained a family home until 1959.
From the early 1960s, the local authority used St Mary’s Lodge as a women’s hostel, offering refuge to up to nine women at a time. The hostel was closed in the mid-1990s and the building and grounds were left unmaintained and unsecured. There was a major fire in 2005 and vandals, squatters and the elements have left the abandoned house and grounds in a poor state. When I last wrote about this site in 2007 I said that St Mary’s Lodge’s future was uncertain - it still is in 2018 but in an even worse condition. After years of unsuccessful negotiations between Hackney Council and owners proposed options as recent as 2017 include restoring the lodge on its own and turning it into a school, or transforming the whole site and also building affordable housing - there is a covenant that the site’s use is restricted to education or community use and was sold at an undervalue because of that covenant. There has been suggestion that the community could negotiate an alternative educational provision in return for allowing the site to be developed for residential purposes providing an income for a school on an alternative site.
St Mary's Lodge as pictured below by Derelict London in 2018 (thumbnails to right of main picture). Note that this site is extremely dangerous and entry is ill -advised
St Mary's Lodge. Photographs below by Derelict London in 2007:
The pictures below were photographs of the derelict interior of St Marys are reproduced by kind permission of the stmaryslodge website - these were taken prior to the 2005 fire which gutted the place.
WATERMEADOW COURT - FULHAM, SW6
Watermeadow Court - Fulham, SW6
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This 1980s council estate consisting of 80 flats was condemned by Hammersmith and Fulham Council in 2008 as it was deemed by the council to provide substandard accommodation as they said it provided cramped conditions. A few of the tenants were fed up at being told what was good for them and were not happy their neighbourhood being split up & being decanted elsewhere. The blocks that are set for demolition include Charlow Close, Potters Road, Townmead Road and Watermeadow Lane.
There is one leaseholder still hanging on in there which is delaying demolition. There are believed to be historic land contamination issues and having a cleared site would enable the Council to carry out further below ground investigative work before deciding what to do with this 1.2 acres of prime real estate worth millions of pounds adjacent to Chelsea Harbour Club and within spitting distance of the Thames in this affluent part of town. I wonder where the 1980s professionals involved in the original planning of this estate are now.... |
HAMPSTEAD,NW3 - HEATH HOUSE
Heath House is on the highest point in London situated on the edge of Hampstead Heath.
Heath House was occupied by Samuel Hoare in 1790. Hoare was a Quaker banker who lived there until his death in 1825. Hoares Bank continue to this day as the UK's leading independent private bank & remain wholly owned by the Hoare family.
It is said that from its roof, you can see six counties on a clear day. It seemed to have been empty for quite a long while but as of 2021, has been renovated.
Heath House was occupied by Samuel Hoare in 1790. Hoare was a Quaker banker who lived there until his death in 1825. Hoares Bank continue to this day as the UK's leading independent private bank & remain wholly owned by the Hoare family.
It is said that from its roof, you can see six counties on a clear day. It seemed to have been empty for quite a long while but as of 2021, has been renovated.
HAGGERSTON, E2 - THE KINGSLAND ESTATE
The Kingsland Estate was opened by the Mayor of Shoreditch in 1949 and in 2007 almost three-quarters of the residents on the estate voted favouring the demolition and rebuild of the houses, and these apparently will be offered tenancies once the revamp is complete which gets underway soon.
The artwork is by Egyptian Nazir Tanbouli. He was given permission by housing association L&Q to paint the outside wall of his studio, which is on the estate, on the basis that the whole place is about to be demolished later this year to make way for around 700 new homes. But his images were so popular with the remaining locals he was given permission for an open canvas of the whole estate.
The artwork is by Egyptian Nazir Tanbouli. He was given permission by housing association L&Q to paint the outside wall of his studio, which is on the estate, on the basis that the whole place is about to be demolished later this year to make way for around 700 new homes. But his images were so popular with the remaining locals he was given permission for an open canvas of the whole estate.
Andrew Pealling writes to Derelict London: "I have just seen my parents old flat on your fascinating website. It was on the Kingsland estate under the section of derelict flats. We lived on the top corner flat of Hebden Court number 33. My parents, sister and brother moved in as its first tenants, and I was born there. Mum passed away in 1988 and dad in 2001. The flat was boarded up shortly after. I had loving caring parents and the whole estate was occupied by decent hard-working families. Things altered for the worse in the 80s and as decent people moved away scumbags moved in. Dad was terrorized by break-ins and late night knocks on the door for the rest of his tenure. I was moved to tears by your pictures as I recalled some of the happiest years of my childhood spent with wonderful parents and good friends. Long may your excellent website continue".
As of Summer 2014, the estate has just been demolished apart from a handful of flats in Laburnan St.
The last few flats awaiting demolition on the Kingsland Estate in Haggerston
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"A hop, skip & a jump to Shoreditch & Islington"
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Derelict Houses On Bowes Road,N11 - A406 North Circular
Many of the houses previously featured on this website further up the North Circular nearer Palmers Green have actually been refurbished and are now looking in great condition (as you can see on the "Then and Now" section on this website). The ones on Bowes Road just before it bends into Telford Road haven't been so lucky. Proposals were made for demolition of these existing properties and erection of 42 flats and 14 mews houses. The house with the collapsing roof was derelict for years and I featured it in the Derelict London book.
All the above houses plus these pictured below on the other side of the road were finally demolished in 2014. The old gardens of the houses had become quite a pleasant wilderness. Whilst these buildings were well boarded and steel shuttered, some people had created little entrances and appeared to be sheltering there at nighttime. A local resident told me that he believed these people to be Romanians.
And as for the ones way further down towards Brent Cross some have been refurbished and a couple still remain derelict as seen below:
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Below is a slideshow of some pictures taken in 2009 along the A406 North Circular Road in the Brent Cross area:
PARK LANE ,WESTMINSTER. W1 - 138 Park Lane aka "The Nicholas Cage Mansion"
This Grade 2 listed building occupies the site of two small houses, originally built in 1758. Occupants in the early years included: Sir Joseph Pennington, Richard Fitzpatrick (M.P), Henry Fitzroy Stanhope (son of 2nd Earl of Harrington) & Lord Charles Bentinck.
In or around 1831 the two houses were knocked into one with substantial alterations. The first tenant of the single house was Lord Lincoln, M.P., subsequently 5th Duke of Newcastle. John Attwood, (M.P.) & Sir John Villiers Shelley (M.P) also lived here before in 1928, the house was converted to a shop, offices and flats and Doric stone surrounds were added to the shopfronts
The empty building was bought for £10 million in 2007 and is registered to a limited company based in Jersey. The owner is rumoured to be a Middle Eastern businessman, though a previous group of squatters believes that HSBC are part owners.
This mansion made the national press in 2010 when a Facebook party titled “Nicolas Cage Mansion Party” got out of hand as riot police were reported as having running battles with party-goers. The party was advertised widely on Facebook as a “night of mayhem” to celebrate squatters taking over this six-storey Georgian mansion on Park Lane.But events rapidly spiralled out of control when thousands of teenagers heard about the party through social networking sites, passed the invite to their friends and then descended en masse.
Police officers arrived to try and stop revellers from climbing onto the building’s roof which they feared would collapse under the weight of so many people. They called for riot police to back them up after a few party goers started hurling bottles and bricks in protest. Park Lane was closed off for more than three hours as officers tried to persuade the revellers to leave. Courtney Love, who lives off Park Lane, had to abandon a gig in Camden that night because she could not get through police lines.
The building has been boarded up for a number of years and there are no imminent plans for re-use.
SOHO, W1 - DISUSED SCHOOL KEEPER'S HOUSERight in the centre of Soho is this school keeper's house, which was built somewhere between 1750-80 sitting in the grounds of Westminster Kingsway College (WKC) Soho campus. The main college building was built in 1880 as the Pultney School. Obviously, this building predates the college and its original form was likely to be part of a row of labourers’ dwellings. The building has been left empty and unused for over 25 years. Though not listed it is on a local building conservation list & is protected from demolition. The WKC are looking to extend their building that would incorporate the derelict building in a refurbished form but whether that actually happens remains to be seen. Plans by a local community group to turn the building into an arts hub called The Soho Foundry have also been proposed. This is led by the guy who was responsible for the legendary Foundry in Shoreditch which many of us frequented before closing in 2010 to make way for a hotel development. |
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HAGGERSTON E8 - SAMUEL HOUSEHere we are .... another block of flats lined up for demolition. The difference here is that a group of artists has displayed colour portraits of local residents placed over the boards which have covered the windows of empty flats on Samuel House. The work entitled "I am Here" was created by Fugitive Images and can be found on Clarissa Street & is clearly visible from the Regents Canal towpath. The 1930s Haggerston Estate was run by Hackney Council until being transferred to London and Quadrant Housing Association who are building a new estate. |
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This is a gallery of some derelict homes north of the river (click to enlarge). Taken at various times over the last 10 years
