HENDON NW9 - RAF HENDON (Disused Aircraft Control Tower)
The insignia is of the Grahame-White Aviation Company who bought the land in 1911 and promoted the site as the London Aerodrome. The RAF & the US used Hendon during WW11. During the Battle of Britain a number of fighter squadrons used the airfield. Unoccupied since the 1980s when the RAF ceased operations. Approved scheme for use as a leisure facility within a development scheme has not progressed. New proposals submitted for a high-density housing development, but these do not include the listed building.
Iain Duncan took the following pics inside the site in approx 2003
EAST HAM E6 - DISUSED CHEMICAL FACTORY
The Disused factory of Burgoine Burbidges. The building, which was a thriving chemical business, seemed to go into disrepair after the second world war. The council took it over for storage. Then it became empty some time later, when it was padlocked and chained for years, until travellers broke in quite recently , then they were thrown out.
KINGS CROSS N1 - THE LIGHTHOUSE BUILDING
This building was constructed in 1875 and the ‘lighthouse’ on the top is something of an enigma. Some claim that it dates back to the time when oysters were popular and cheap fast food and the ‘oyster houses’ that sold them were marked with a lighthouse. Some claim that the ‘lighthouse’ is really an old helter-skelter ride from a fairground. No one, though, seems sure.
This whole area is getting a facelift now that the Channel Tunnel international railway station is opening over the road at St Pancras station, and the plan is to redevelop the Lighthouse Building as office, retail and food and drink outlets.
Sara writes: "this lovely building was squatted by some dubious friends and i moved in after being evicted from another property at short notice. most of the buildings had fallen into serious disrepair and were not really habitable (missing floors and staircases, no water etc). one night, whilst on the roof behind the old garage builings towards the rear of the complex, we discovered a light well with missing panes. we tied a rope to the railings and lowered ourselves down into the room below, in which we found a set of stairs leading down. following these for a while, we eventually emerged onto an old tube station platform! the line was still in use, but this particular secret stop was not. there is a workmans enrty to it on the end that backs on to the Scala, however i don't think that has been accessed in a long time either."
BOW E3 - DISUSED WORKSHOP
Another building destined for demolition due to close proximity of the Olympic 2012 site