London Leather, Hide and Wool Exchange, Leathermarket Street.
One industry that came to dominate central Bermondsey, away from the riverfront, was the processing and trading of leather and hides. Many buildings from this era survive around Leathermarket Street including the huge Leather, Hide and Wool Exchange.
The London Leather Exchange, architects George Elkington; an engraving from the Builder, 1879. It ceased functioning as a centre for buying and selling about 1912; but an important reminder of Bermondsey's past. The adjacent leather market in Weston Street was established in 1833.
19th Century London Leather Exchange and Bermondsey Leather Market. This great leather or hide market lies in Weston Street, the neighbourhood in which it stands was devoted entirely to thinners and tanners, and the air reeked with foul smells. At twelve o'clock the men poured out from all the works. Their clothes are marked with many stains; their trousers were discoloured by tan; some had aprons and gaiters of raw hide; and about them all seems to hang a scent of blood. The market itself stands in the centre of a quiet block of buildings on the left hand side of Weston-Street. Most of it was roofed, but there was an open space lathe centre. Under the roofing were huge piles of fresh hides and sheep-skins. There was no noise or bustle, and only few people about. There were no retail purchasers, the sales being almost entirely made to the great tanners in the neighbourhood. The warehouses round were all full of tanned hides; the yards behind the walls were all tanneries, with their tens of thousands of hides soaking in the pits.
Parts of the building, including a clocktower and slaughterhouses were destroyed by bombing in WWII. The adjacent Leather Exchange building dates to 1879 and is now occupied by various offices and workshops including glassblowing and trendy pubs and restaurants.
Leathermarket Street
Re: Leathermarket Street
Whittard, Crisp & Co, Leather & Hide Factory, Market St, Bermondsey. Market St is now Leathermarket Street and runs off Morocco St.
Re: Leathermarket Street
Board's Buildings, 1913,not quite sure of this but I think it was near the Weston Street end of Leathermarket Street.? At that time (1913) it was called Manning Street and the Bermondsey Street end was called Market Street. All now Leathermarket Street.
Re: Leathermarket Street
Picture states building occupied by E.S. Ward & Co. and Ryedene Ltd. c1949. I’ve not been able to confirm this.
Re: Leathermarket Street
Board's Buildings ran from Tabard Street to Amicable Row. The photo is looking towards Tabard Street from Amicable Row. The wall on the right was of the South London Boiler Works.kiwi wrote:Board's Buildings, 1913
Re: Leathermarket Street
Fogbrain wrote:Board's Buildings ran from Tabard Street to Amicable Row. The photo is looking towards Tabard Street from Amicable Row. The wall on the right was of the South London Boiler Works.kiwi wrote:Board's Buildings, 1913
Thank's Fogbrain, for the correct information.
Can you keep a check on MYSTERY-DO YOU RECOGNISE THESE PLACES? TOPIC, only there are a few pictures that I cannot place.
Cheers Kiwi.
Re: Leathermarket Street
Fogbrain wrote:Board's Buildings ran from Tabard Street to Amicable Row. The photo is looking towards Tabard Street from Amicable Row. The wall on the right was of the South London Boiler Works.kiwi wrote:Board's Buildings, 1913
Thank's Fogbrain, for the correct information. I had already posted this in Tabard Street but had forgot to adjust posts (Sorry). Bloody old age.
Can you keep a check on MYSTERY-DO YOU RECOGNISE THESE PLACES? TOPIC, only there are a few pictures that I cannot place.
Cheers Kiwi.
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