Comments on: The Last Sailmakers’ Loft In The East End https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/01/10/the-last-sailmakers-loft-in-the-east-end/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:35:38 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Matt https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/01/10/the-last-sailmakers-loft-in-the-east-end/#comment-1914573 Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:35:38 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=127765#comment-1914573 I was once in a music video which was filmed inside this building. It was in the same state as in the photos and yes, it was pretty dangerous to walk around in at night with only a torch. There was a lot of random holes in the floor and lots of loose floorboards on the first floor. I don’t know if he was the owner, but while we were filming there was a random older man wandering around. He reminded me of the old guy from Home Alone 2.
To the right of the main front central entrance there is a small kitchen and is the only the room that was kept clean etc. I think the bathrooms were on the other side of the gate, but I can’t remember clearly. The rest of the place was as in the photos.

]]> By: David shakespeare https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/01/10/the-last-sailmakers-loft-in-the-east-end/#comment-1365475 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 22:45:08 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=127765#comment-1365475 I’m interested in the building plot to the left of ‘the sailmakers loft’ which was a Salvation Army church hall…. now long demolished. As a child in the late 1960s I used to go to Sunday School there. I remember the ground floor as having coke stoves to provide heating, an upstairs balcony and a lower floor which opened up on to the canal towpath.

Next to this was a petrol station at the road junction ( with Methodist Hall opposite).

The only remaining part of this structure was two white stone pillars, which used to be the main entrance to the SA hall.

Does anyone have any photographs I wonder?

]]> By: Rokiah Yaman https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/01/10/the-last-sailmakers-loft-in-the-east-end/#comment-1318415 Wed, 30 Oct 2019 17:54:13 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=127765#comment-1318415 Hello
I’m just wondering if there has been an update on the planning permission?

]]> By: Limehousey https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/01/10/the-last-sailmakers-loft-in-the-east-end/#comment-1277588 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 21:43:16 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=127765#comment-1277588 Have just heard that planning permission has been granted for a developer to turn this building into flats, sadly I imagine most of its history and meaning will be lost as only the facade is listed when the real meaning of the building is in its interiors.

As an aside – I once went to a rave in the building to on the western side of the buildings pictures which has evidently once housed the HQ of the Communist Party of Great Britain as it was littered with boxes of its paper The Daily Worker.

]]> By: Josefina De MARCOS https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/01/10/the-last-sailmakers-loft-in-the-east-end/#comment-1216004 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 20:49:08 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=127765#comment-1216004 I walked past this building that I have admired for many years and the door was open!
A very nice gentleman tall and thin and dressed in black wearing a straw hat with a black rim welcomed us (I was with my daughter and granddaughter) and showed us around it only where it was safe to go. It will cost millions to save it, and the right and left of the building will have to become apartments. The big middle building, with the beautiful windows will be small offices and art studios. I hope he succeeds, this I’d better than loosing the building.

]]> By: Marisa https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/01/10/the-last-sailmakers-loft-in-the-east-end/#comment-1199931 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 17:03:37 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=127765#comment-1199931 I love this venue and am looking to film a scene for a music video here. Does anyone know if it is rentable/bookable or just abandoned?

]]> By: Biddie Mutter https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/01/10/the-last-sailmakers-loft-in-the-east-end/#comment-1185110 Fri, 08 Dec 2017 14:50:14 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=127765#comment-1185110 My Great Uncles worked there in the 40’s and 50’s. I’ve been fascinated that they appear to have lived there too?
777 commercial road and 777 East India Docks, 777 Donne House, and 777 Burgess street all appear to be connected to them. Does anyone know whether these were the same address?

]]> By: Lenka https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/01/10/the-last-sailmakers-loft-in-the-east-end/#comment-1180307 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 11:41:26 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=127765#comment-1180307 It is a beautiful building and it would be great to restore it (at least the shell) make great housing for Artist studios/Galleries, or cultural centre. I am an Artist and would love to live/work in a place like this. More luxury flats(new build) would be unfortunate.
It would need big Money to restore, I wish I had it.
Wishing it well,
Lenka

]]> By: Dani https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/01/10/the-last-sailmakers-loft-in-the-east-end/#comment-1141509 Tue, 14 Mar 2017 15:03:36 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=127765#comment-1141509 Hi all, not sure if this will get picked up as I see this is an old post – the Sailmaker’s Warehouse is under significant immediate threat from unethical property developers. Some locals, including me, are trying to mount opposition to proposed housing development within and surrounding the building, to the detriment of the local community.

If you’re interested, please comment here asap and we can get in touch!

Thanks

]]> By: jim king https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/01/10/the-last-sailmakers-loft-in-the-east-end/#comment-1128646 Mon, 09 Jan 2017 14:56:04 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=127765#comment-1128646 Caird & Rayner (Nautical engineers) occupied this building at 777 Commercial Road E14 in the sixties.
I worked there as an apprentice in the drawing office from 1960 to 1965.
Caird & Rayner manufactured boilers evaporators, fresh water makers for ships including many for the Royal Navy.
Eventually Caird & Rayner moved to Watford in the late seventies.

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