Glasshill Street

In this recent thread several people talked affectionately about Glasshill Street so I thought it was worth flagging up this application for the demolition of 38-40 Glasshill Street [with retention of facades] (11/AP/2441) which will be considered by Borough & Bankside Community Council later this month.

There is an existing consent for redevelopment, but since permission was granted in 2008 the area has become a conservation area so separate approval is required for demolition.

I was interested to read the comments about Glasshill Street, especially the mention of old industrial buildings. Recently I've been researching the history of local gaols. In the 18th Century there was a prison at the south, Webber Street end of the road called the Surrey Bridewell, run by the Justices of the County of Surrey.

On a 1799 map it’s shown as the New Bridewell, and seems to be the only structure on the east side of the street (at this point Webber Street ended further to the west and the road Providence Row joined at the bottom was called Higlers Lane):

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~genmaps/genfiles/COU_files/ENG/LON/horwood_southwark_1799.htm

In 1780 the Surrey Bridewell was one of several London prisons attacked during the Gordon Riots. A contemporary drawing shows the gaol in flames along with the nearby Kings's Bench Prison, which stood where the Scovell estate is now. Not long after this the prison was superseded by the new Horsemonger Lane Gaol, on the site of the present Newington Gardens on Harper Road.

After the Bridewell closed I understand the building gained a new use, and is shown on an 1872 map as a soap factory.

The name, 'Glasshill Street' hit me between the eyes.
I'm sure that's where my grandfather worked, up to his retirement in 1956, for James Clark & Eaton. I haven't seen or heard of the name since. Can anyone confirm that this company was there at some time.

chalkey wrote:

The name, 'Glasshill Street' hit me between the eyes.
I'm sure that's where my grandfather worked, up to his retirement in 1956, for James Clark & Eaton. I haven't seen or heard of the name since. Can anyone confirm that this company was there at some time.

Found on WWW:
http://www.transportphotos.com/road/photo/VS00610

Van says James Clark & Eaton, Blackfriars

OMG!
Thanks for that, MR.
I've been thinking about it since my last post and I vaguely remember going with my nan to meet the old man from work, for whatever reason, and seeing a similar lorry to the one in the picture. The memory can play tricks, but I think it was green with red lettering.
Obviously this would have been prior to his retirement, so I hadn't reached my ninth birthday.

That actually looks to be parked on Glasshill St. An impressive search find, Merlin.

Tolstoy wrote:

That actually looks to be parked on Glasshill St. An impressive search find, Merlin.

Could it be here in an older version?

My name is Richard Patrick East, known as Pat East.
Apprenticed at James Clark and Eaton at 49 Kingsland Road
Shoreditch in 1948 till 1954, as a glass decorater then did National service in the Royal Air Force. Whilst apprenticed my regular weekly job was to take the paperwork to head office in Glasshill Street. My Father Dick East worked for Clarks for most of his life and drove a Leveathon Bedford at Glasshill Street.
I am now aged 78 and live in Dereham, Norfolk.

Thanks for that Richard. It's nice to see this little street get some attention, given apart from the impressive bridge structure there's not a lot else that immediately jumps out at you. For me its the very lack of obvious attractions that gives one a sense of history and an odd shift in time as you wander down it. I always feel it moves a little differently down there.

I love this site for this sort of stuff. Thanks to everyone, above, for their contributions.