Old Chippie

Derelict Places

Help Support Derelict Places:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

gsea

Member
Joined
Aug 28, 2007
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Location
London
Just trying out as it is my first posting,1920s chip shop in Acton London.It was closed in 1997 and is due for demolition in a few weeks,most of it had not changed since the day it oppened even still used coal fired fryers,the under table heating was probably added later. The owner was a keen racing pigeon keeper.














 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thats fantastic, I'd love to have a look around there. Would it be possible for you to pm me some details? There is something about exploring a derelict coal powerd chip shop that really appeals, it would be a great shame to see the place knocked down.

Incedentally there is still supposed to be a chip shop in yorks that is the last in the country to run their fryers on coal which I keep meaning to visit.
 
Last edited:
gsea, it is wonderful.

I am a newbie and you have inspired me to take up cudgels to defend the place.

There is a planning application in for redevelopment so I have written with an objection. Here it is:-

Ealing Planning Services
PO Box 14941,
LONDON
W5 2YP

[email protected]
[email protected]

Reference No PP/2007/4277
1 EAST ACTON LANE, LONDON W3 7HD

Dear Ms Blair

I write to object to the proposed demolition of the existing buildings.

The building is locally listed by the borough as a building of local architectural or historic interest.

The street elevation of No 1 is an unusual asymmetric, elegant and a well preserved pre-war retail premise with a glazed and tiled frontage. The glazing bars are light, the glass interestingly patterned and the leading pattern is sympathetic. The tiled apron is completely apposite for a fish shop of the period. The shop sign is well detailed and in good order.

I am sure it is unique. It looks like a film set. It must be kept intact. I have not had time to check on the launch of the business in the local press. I am sure there was great pride in the design and nothing like it survives.

It is clear that the fish tiles on the exterior and interior walls of 1 East Acton Lane were designed and painted by the celebrated Polly Brace.

The tile decorating firm Dunsmore Tiles was founded by Miss Polly Brace and Miss Pilsbury. It was in business by 1928 at Campden Hill, Kenisngton. The company specialised in stencilled and hand-painted tiles on George Wooliscroft and Minton and Co blanks (occasionally others) to produce a wide of hand decorated tiles. The firm ceased trading by 1956.

The preservation of these beautiful tiles in a commercial environment makes them very rare survivors. Very few Dunsmore tiles are still in situ. Dunsmore tiles can be found in museums (see http://www.derbycity.com/michael/fac-1.html).

The premises can be used for a variety of retail and office businesses. Its destruction would be a national loss and pointless.

Yours

Cinesteps
 
Last edited:
That's an excellent letter, cinestep. You obviously know your stuff about glazed tiles and architecture...some very interesting info there. I noted your reference to a film set. I wonder if locations companies know about it? I'm sure they'd be falling over each other to get the place on their books. Might be worth looking into methinks. :D

Cheers for that :)
 
Just sent an email to one of the film location sites (the only one I could find with an actual email address) alerting them to the possibilities of its use, info about it, etc. Fingers crossed...we might be able to do some good here! :D
 
Thanks for your support King Al and I think your film location action is great Foxylady.

Please feel free to write or email Ealing LBC with an objection to the demolition of the Chippy. Just quote the Reference No PP/2007/4277.

Anyone can object and the more the better...

I have just been sent a copy of another objection. Extracts are here...

"I believe there to be a very strong argument for overall conservation of this building. Not only is it of considerable historical value in so far as it still has its coal fired fryers in situ, but it also has very considerable architectural and aesthetic importance. In particular, the building is decorated, both internally and externally, with very important hand-painted tiles. Portraying fish, these tiles are the work of Polly Brace, the famous designer and decorator who founded Dunsmore Tiles in 1925. The Dunsmore studio was located at 2 Hillsleigh Road, Campden Hill, Notting Hill, London W.8. until 1964.

"Much of her tile work was bought privately to display either framed or on a stand in homes. Needless to say, today these tiles are highly regarded.

However, Polly Brace also decorated some retail outlets such as W. Burrows Fish & Chip Shop; and, indeed, this building it seems is now a very rare example of her tiles still in situ.

"Her work is discussed and/or illustrated in the following works:
(1) Blanchett, Chris (2006): 20th Century Decorative British Tiles: Commercial Manufacturers, A-H. Schiffer Publishing Co., pp.197-215.
( 2) Hans Van Lemmen & Chris Blanchett (1999): 20th Century Tiles. Shire Publications, p.16.
(3) Hans Van Lemmen (1988): Decorative Tiles throughout the Ages. London: Bracken Books, Plate 34 - showing 13 different tiles.
(4) Gordon Land, ed. (2004): 1000 Tiles: 2000 years of Decorative Ceramics. London: A & C Black, pp. 274-5.

"There are certainly several options that might sensibly be considered before permitting overall demolition. Firstly, because of the buildings overall historical integrity, it would certainly deserve to be relocated in a living museum. This has recently happened with the finely tiled Hobbs Fish & Chip Shop in Dudley in the West Midlands. This building has been carefully dismantled and relocated in the Black Country Living Museum, where it will soon be functioning again as a fish and chip shop .

"Should this not be possible, then the Burrows building could certainly be integrated into the new development. There are many examples now throughout the United Kingdom, where buildings of architectural and/or historical importance have been incorporated into the developments and function as new retail outlets while retaining all important original features.

"If this is not considered feasible, then it will be vital that the important architectural features be removed separately and relocated. This action should be undertaken only by skilled tile conservation specialists, as all too often well-intentioned builders and developers do irreparable damage in trying to remove tiles attached with Portland cement without the necessary equipment and/or experience. Should the Committee decide on this option, TACS will be pleased to suggest the names of such skilled specialist firms.

"Relocation should ideally be within the same environ, as the tiles are part of the local history. If there is no suitable location, then at the very least, they should be placed in a museum. Certainly, I imagine that the V & A, would be delighted to add them to its collection. There are also tile specific museums located in Ironbridge and in Stoke-on-Trent. I will be pleased to provide contact details should this be required."

What a brilliant letter! Go to it folks.. You need not say much in your letter, just that you object to demolition.

Best wishes,

Cinestep
 
Will do, cinestep.
Found another film location company with an email addy later last night, and sent them an email too. Heard from one of them today to say that without the owners name and address they feel that there's little they can do. Do we know who the current owner is? If so, I can send them another message with the info.
Cheers :)
 
Hi guys,i didnt realise that taking some photos of the chippie would create such interest,i havnt been on this site for a while which is why i am posting some info for all concerned now. The two sons who were working at this shop as young boys are still on the premisses,one has a music studio underneath and access is gained from the side,the other brother has a car workshop at the rear,from what i could gather when i spoke to them was that the situation for re-development was out of there hands.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top