Grist to his derelict mills: an interview with Larry Allen

Since his childhood in Greenwich, the Royal Victoria Dock has fascinated Larry Allen. As a student, Larry focussed many of his projects on the industrial heyday of the site and proposals to regenerate this amazing groups of buildings which, although only a short distance from the centre of London still stand idle.

Over the past 16 years, Larry has seen and catalogued many changes to the site, some with great sadness, like the complete demolition of the CWS Flour Mill – as well as the demolition of parts of the Rank Hovis Premier, Spillers Millennium and Rank Hovis Empire Mills.

Larry has a large photographic library of the site, of both the north and south side of the dock. He was fortunate to gain permission to access the rooftops of these flour mills, to see their architectural detail close up, and to get a bird’s eye view of the dock below and of the rooftops of the neighbouring mills.

TDS> What has attracted you to an interest in this group of buildings
that everybody else seems to have forgotten?

LARRY> Their dilapidated grandeur oozes character and charisma. To the public and the neighbouring apartments, they're probably just derelict run-down and neglected buildings - probably an eyesore that should be removed. Jean-Michel Jarre made a feature of them during his Destination Docklands concert in October 1988, which first drew my attention to them. Since then, I look at these buildings, well, what's left of them, as a visual reminder of the industrial heyday of the Royal Victoria Dock – and that should be respected.

TDS> Do you think they are being respected at the moment?

LARRY> No. They’ve been fenced off and guarded 24hrs while they quietly rot, waiting for the developers to move in. Their windows are broken, holes are starting to appear in the structure - rain water has entered, moss has started to grow. They lie in peace but are quietly crying out for help.

TDS> when will the developers move in? What do you think will happen to
the sites?

LARRY> A planning request was submitted to the Local Authority in December 2003 - they call it ‘Silvertown Quays’ – but there’s no date for work to commence. When it does, it’s expected to take 10-15 years. It's a 60-acre site and these buildings are the main landmarks. The plan is for mixed-use - residential, commercial, leisure and public areas. It will also be home to London's new aquarium.

The Spillers Millennium Mill will be converted into loft style apartments with parts of the structure to be removed, and the attached brown brick building, Rank Premier Mill may be demolished, sadly. Silo D is going to be retained and will also be integrated into the proposal.

TDS> do you think the buildings have any attraction, use or purpose in their current state?

LARRY> Unfortunately, due to the condition of the buildings - asbestos, broken glass, structural weakness etc, and the buildings can’t be used for any purpose as they currently stand. If they had been respected and looked after, something may have been possible. The only way they can be brought back to life is through refurbishment. The Baltic Mill in Gateshead is a good example of what can be done with flour mill refurbishment.

TDS> A lot of people find them attractive in their current state. What's your reaction to people like that?

LARRY> I'm one of them. Put me in touch with others and I'll have a field day! I recently met a local resident who's new to the area and has been researching these buildings, but with no luck. I showed him my 16-year photographic collection and the time just flew by! I enjoy sharing my interest in these buildings, by presenting images of the other buildings that have since been demolished... some people only know the structures that remain and unfortunately have missed out on exploring the beauty of the other derelict mills that were once on site.

TDS> So what's the attraction? Why do you think they draw people’s interest?

LARRY> I guess it's their size, the peeling paintwork, broken glass, coldness and emptiness. The way they change the local skyline and their dramatic contrast and position with the vast amount of water. But the water is so still, almost like glass. There is also the element of mystery - why are they fenced off? Why can't I get in? What would happen if I did? What's inside? Is it a good view from the roof? What will happen to them?

TDS> What would you ideally like to see happen to the mills?

LARRY> I would like to see both remaining buildings made structurally safe and turned into a kind of museum or monument that reflects their involvement in the industrial heyday of the site. The large white structure is what remains of the Spillers Millennium Mills and the small, lower height brown brick building is what remains of the Rank Hovis Premier Mill – most people don’t realise they are two separate buildings.

Mind you, if health and safety wasn't such a key element here, I'd opt to keep the broken windows, the rusting machinery (what's left of it) and the pigeon shit all in situ. To walk through the large open plan floors, with the wind and rain gushing through the broken windows wouldn't be comfortable, but it would be an experience. Even away from the buildings, I can feel the cold wind bounce off the dock water and having to duck when pigeons fly out of the windows in panic at my presence.

Although their proposed refurbishment into loft apartments is better than complete demolition, it would be great to keep the buildings standing as they are now. Raw, interesting, in the hands of nature and gradually self-destructing for all to explore. Whenever they want.

Obviously, this would never happen. I can only dream.

Email Larry Allen on ldsajw@yahoo.co.uk

See photos of the Mills on Yves Marchand’s site:
http://striped.online.fr/friched/inheritance/millennium/index.html

And see Bartolomy’s pictures on this site:
http://www.thederelictsensation.com/c_kamp/kamp_lvle_1.htm