Baseline Conditions

4 Baseline Conditions Introduction 4.5 Puritanism in the latter half of the 17th century led to a decline in theatre and other immoral pursuits and the Bankside area 4.1 The urban development of London has resulted from a began to instead be occupied by industry, particularly those combination of careful foresight and planning, and a prag- which had been expelled from the City following the Great matic, sometimes expedient response to opportunities and Fire. The Anchor Brewery was established by 1710, it was one events. Consequently, it is a city of many distinctive parts that of the largest breweries in the world by 1815, and Rocque’s have combined to create a rich urban environment. Through map of 1745 shows a skin market, vinegar yard, a whitening complex interactions London’s fabric has become highly ground, a pack thread ground, a stone cutters yard and a stratified and is represented by a great variety of architectural timber yard all within the Bankside area. Slightly further west, styles and building types. These have been built over many the map shows another brewery, the Peacock Brewhouse, centuries in response to changing opportunities, and to the and a glasshouse yard, both to the south of Willow Walk. The expectations and demands of London’s citizens. glasshouse yard was bought by the Phoenix Gas Company in the early 19th century, who operated a gasworks on the site, 4.2 London has not been defined physically by any single over- and subsequently the South Metropolitan Gas Company. riding architectural idea or stylistic era. It represents a blend of many architectural periods – Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian 4.6 The construction of Blackfriars Bridge in 1769 and Southwark and Modern – which have all added to its building stock within Bridge in 1819 both greatly improved the connectivity of an existing or altered framework of streets and public spaces. Southwark with the City and Westminster. Development Moving outwards from London’s early twin cities of the City of quickly extended southwards over the fields and marshy land London and Westminster, each London Borough has its own of St George’s Fields. Horwood’s map of 1819 shows this inten- recognisable character and its own architectural and stylistic sification and also the continuation of industrial premises in high and low points. the area, the Anchor Brewery and vinegar Manufactory have both expanded and an Iron Liquor Manufactory and Tan History of the Site and surrounding area Yard occupy a large site to the west. Southwark Street was constructed in 1862-4 and provided a link from the terminus 4.3 The northern parts of Southwark were first developed by of the South Eastern Railway at London Bridge to Blackfriars the Romans, particularly around the bridgehead of London Road/Bridge and onwards to the West End. The new street Bridge, Borough, along the river front and along key routes cut through the existing residential and industrial neighbour- southwards. Southwark became an important Saxon town, hood and was engineered by Joseph Bazalgette. It was the Fig 4-1: Rocque map of 1746 with Site in red with the majority of the land being held by the Bishops of first street by the Metropolitan Board of Works, predecessor Winchester. A manor for the Bishops to reside in whilst of the GLC and GLA, and also the first to combine gas, water, attending business in Southwark and London was built drainage pipes and telephone lines into a single duct beneath in mid-12th century; known as Winchester Palace. The the roadway. The new street was lined with relatively large surrounding area, known as the Liberty of the Clink, was also commercial buildings, many of which remain. The mid-19th under the jurisdiction of the bishops, rather than the City of century also saw the construction of railway lines across the London allowing activities which were restricted in the city area, running roughly parallel to the south of Southwark to develop including gambling, animal baiting, prostitution Street and over two new railway bridges; Blackfriars Railway and theatrics. Despite this activity large areas of land and Bridge, actually two adjacent bridges dated 1864 and 1886, the whole of the surrounding area remained as fields until the and Cannon Street Railway Bridge, opened in 1866. 17th century. 4.7 The Bankside gasworks were bought by the City Electric Light 4.4 These liberties allowed the area to prosper in the 16th and Company and replaced with a coal-fired power station, in 17th centuries as an entertainment district. Although bear- 1891, serving the City of London. Coal was delivered via a baiting is known to have been in regular occurrence by 1546, dedicated wharf at Queen’s Wharf and the water provided the Bear Garden, an open air structure for public bear and amble water for cooling. Southwark Bridge was rebuilt in bull-baiting was not constructed until 1576, its rough location 1912-21, delayed due to WWI, by the Bridge House Estate, preserved in the alley of the same name. At its peak there who by this time owned substantial amounts of land and were four theatres in the area, the Rose Theatre, being the property in Southwark. The new bridge was designed by Sir first, was constructed in 1587-8, and then the more famous Ernest George and Alfred Bowman Yeates. As an industrial Globe Theatre in 1599. The Swan Theatre was constructed on area, and in close proximity to the City, the area suffered the former Manor of Paris Garden in c.1595-6. The first Globe severely from bomb damage in WWII. This has led to a burned down in 1613 and was rebuilt on the same site. Also significant number of post-war and modern buildings being in 1613 the Bear Garden was demolished and replaced by the constructed. In 1947 the Victorian Bankside power station Hope Theatre suitable for both animal-baiting and compa- was replaced with a cleaner, oil-fired power station, which was nies of players. Remains of both the rebuilt Globe and Rose fully complete by 1963. The chimney of the power station is theatres survive below the existing streets and are designated slightly lower than the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, which is as Scheduled Ancient Monuments. directly opposite on the north side. Fig 4-2: Horwood map of 1819 with Site in red April 2015 Environmental Statement – Volume 3: Townscape, Heritage and Visual Impact Assessment 185 Park Street 11.

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