On Top Of Britannic House With DC Tassell
In a new documentary series, Detective Constable Lew Tassell of the City of London Police Serious Fraud Squad reveals the truth of bribes and threats used to cover up corruption in seventies London.
Bent Coppers: Crossing the Line of Duty starts tonight, 14th April on BBC Two at 9pm.
Below you can enjoy a panoramic images of the City of London at this time as DC Tassell magically escorts us back thirty-five years and onto the roof of Britannic House in Ropemaker St to enjoy the view.
“In the summer of 1983, I was part of the City of London Serious Fraud Squad, operating from Wood St Police Station. A friend and ex-colleague of mine became head of security at British Petroleum in Britannic House, Ropemaker St and he invited me to photograph the views of London from the rooftop, so I took the opportunity. I went along one June morning and took my pictures.
Britannic House was the first building in the City of London to be taller than St Paul’s Cathedral and remained the tallest until the NatWest Tower was built in 1976. It is now known as City Point – since BP moved out some years ago – and has been refurbished with extra storeys, so it is even taller.” – Lew Tassell
Looking towards Christ Church, Spitalfields
Looking northeast towards the Bishopsgate Goodsyard with Bethnal Green beyond
Looking east to Old Broad St and Liverpool St Station with Spitalfields beyond.
Car park at Old Broad St Station where the Broadgate Estate is today
Looking east along Liverpool St towards Bishopgate and Dewhurst’s Butchers
Looking southeast to Finsbury Circus and the City of London
Looking southeast across the City of London towards Tower Bridge
Looking southwest along London Wall with St Paul’s Cathedral
The dome of St Paul’s with Westminster and Big Ben
Looking west towards Old Bailey and Trafalgar Sq
Looking northwest towards the Post Office Tower with the Barbican to the right
Looking northwest across Clerkenwell with St Pancras Station in the distance
Looking north to Whitecross St Market
Looking down onto the Barbican
St Giles Cripplegate
Looking down from the top of Britannic House
Looking down on Silk St
City of London mounted police in Fore St
Photographs copyright © Lew Tassell
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Brilliant!
Terrific photographs of my London!
Thank you for these wonderful photographs. I worked on the 25th floor of this building for 5 years from 2012 and it’s a real treat to see the views as they were and compare them with my recollections. Less seems to have changed than I might have expected. Marvellous!
Wonderful!
Brilliant!
Having lived and worked in London for almost all of my life, each one of these magnificent panoramas evoke a personal memory and story. I can even say that if Lew Tassel was a member of the serious fraud squad in the City of London Police at Wood St in from 1983 our paths would more than likely have crossed on more than one occasion . I would hasten to add not as a perpetrator of fraud but in the course of my work.
One of my earliest memories that the photos evoked is of the Post Office Tower. My father was a BT communications employee and and was able to obtain tickets for the opening day . It was a prestigious occasion, but he was never one for that sort of thing and asked me if any of my school friends would like to go. I had four tickets and along with Phil Kanner , John Forth and Chris Broadhead went down to Cleveland St . I have memories of the tight security checks that four innocent schoolboys had to go through because we were immediately suspect of being up to no good . Eventually we got to the top floor and saw the magnificent view and the incredible revolving restaurant which I think at that time was not yet open or revolving. I can’t recall another revolving restaurant in London . I would have loved to say that I had eaten there whist it went round, but it would probably have caused a slight case of vertigo
Brilliant photos! I worked in the City in the 80s and 90s, and at one time, just opposite Brittanic House, and this is how I remember it. It was only in later 90s that the skyline started to change dramatically.
Outstanding.
Been reading about Mr Tassell, will watch tonight.
A good cop!
Fabulous views. I would have loved to have been able to live at the Barbican when I was in London. One of my college tutors was renting an apartment there in the early 90s and said it was a great place to live.