Comments on: The Facading Of The White Hart

By: Godfrey Kneller

Godfrey Kneller — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 17:18:12 +0000

Once a barrow boy, aways a barrow boy. Does not care for London’s heritage. Sugar became a Lord by donating to charity and the labour party. Which was the most significant?

By: Kay Anderson

Kay Anderson — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 04:32:29 +0000

Agree with most of the above posts, and this is going on everywhere in the world, to boot! If they can tear down Palmyra, why not London, and every historical place on the planet?

True madness. Heartbreaking.

By: David Charnick

David Charnick — Mon, 17 Apr 2017 16:37:24 +0000

You mention the Duke of Cambridge: this is happening also to the Railway Tavern on Globe Road, Bethnal Green. It was a thriving local pub but was torn down because there’s more money in expensive flats.

Best,

Dave

http://www.globe2apartments.co.uk/gallery.html

By: Phil Cunningham

Phil Cunningham — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 13:52:55 +0000

Dear GA
I found this shocking. Is the council so feeble & impotent as to say NO? Or is it those old ‘planning gain agreements’? I should like to know. Keep up the fight! I will send some photos of what this looked like in 1980’s.
Sincere regards
PCU

By: Ros

Ros — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 20:53:55 +0000

Absolutely revolting and very depressing. I’m afraid planners barely feature in the scheme of things these days, having been put out to grass like other public services. We are seeing what happens when when there is a policy of wealth being sought from corporate and entrepreneurial sources, who then become gods who cannot be questioned or challenged in case they withdraw their apparent bounty. This includes the policy of giving them huge ‘tax incentives’ so that money does not find its way back to anything approaching the public good. I fear we are in lots and lots of trouble!

By: pauline taylor

pauline taylor — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 17:36:13 +0000

Godawful is the very apt description of this monstrous example of modern architecture, and as to how planning permission was given for it, might the fact that Mr Sugar is a very rich man have something to do with it, and Mr Johnson of course. Both should be deeply ashamed of themselves but we all know that they are too busy counting their money!

Facadism is an insult to most of us, and as to the quote from the website of the architects and the destruction of the cellars, well words really do fail me.

By: Peter Holford

Peter Holford — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 17:13:49 +0000

“…a nine storey cylindrical office block of questionable design…” That’s a very flattering description, GA. Let’s call it as it is – an ugly piece of council approved vandalism. Even that doesn’t do justice to the trashing of this particular piece of heritage for no purpose.

By: David milne

David milne — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 16:56:38 +0000

It was with great sadness that I first witnessed the gradual destruction of this fine survivor of a lost age that had clung to life evolving within its constant and current use. First came the notices of planning then in came the workmen to firstly begin the savage removal of the interiors of the 18th century house adjacent to the public house, I stood with horror as I witnessed the lath and plaster ceiling being torn down along with all of the interior chambers.
Next up went the scaffolding with notices and then images informing us of the historic research done to uncover the medieval history of the site as every trace of what had survived within the 1830’s facade were brutally destroyed along with the newsagents tiny interior with its false ceilings that hid what was left of something ancient not lost but buried. I never thought that a site of such historical importance would be swept away. The only surving coaching Inn on Bishopsgate without lost to be gone forever all this within a conservation area.
The yard where the coaches once arrived to drop off their passengers and goods I walked often accessing it through the tiny lane beside the church, it still with its ancient granite blocks that were worn by the many carriages that had arrived and departed for centuries. Now no public access is possible, the open area gone along with all trace of our past. Within its place is now a disgusting building that rises above the facade with its date of its construction the only reminder of what once was as all we are left with is a sad facade, today at 8 am I looked in through the windows to look upon a vast open void of concrete .
All across the city, buildings that have stood for centuries are either being destroyed or parts of their facades kept as ugly towers take their new shape removing all trace of our domestic human occupation of my beloved London.
If this destruction continues as it does like a nasty virus eating away at anything beautiful, buildings built by craftsmen to enhance the lives of its people all will be lost. The tower that now sits above the facade of the White Hart does not do this, it is a statement of absolute disrespect for the building and for the history of this great and ancient part of London. The City of London should be ashamed of what they have allowed to happen.
I now count myself very fortunate to have been able to walk through the back lanes of the pub through the coaching arch to have visited the pub and witnessed its ancient vaults.
I wonder where all this end? London a city of ugly towers and strange facades of what once was. The future should be bright and golden one where we remember and respect our past for our future generations. Instead it has become one of darkness where absolute greed for investment has become the rule of the present day.

By: Allison

Allison — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 15:46:42 +0000

I’m gobsmacked. The new “extension” is such an incredibly ugly and unimaginative building in its own right, but to stick it on top of a building with so much history is unbelievable! How did it get through planning?

By: Martin

Martin — Mon, 10 Apr 2017 14:34:50 +0000

Sad. I get upset when I see London ruined like this. But it seems nobody can do anything about it. Enjoy reading this column despite not having visited London for many years.