Fire at Gardiners' Department store in Commercial Road
Fire at Gardiners' Department store in Commercial Road
Record No
120879
Title
Fire at Gardiners' Department store in Commercial Road
Description
A view of Gardiners' Department store, at the junction of Whitechapel High Street and Commercial Road, Stepney, ablaze with London Fire Brigade in attendance, May 1972. Taken from Whitechapel High Street, numerous firemen can be seen, and there are eight hose jets of water being directed at the building. Specialist appliances with water cannons known as Radial Branches were sent to the scene. The three-sided clock tower would eventually collapse backwards into the store crashing through all five floors, helping the fire subside and leaving just the outer shell still standing. Gardiners' was originally built in the 1870s and specialised in military uniforms and Scottish clothing. For many years the store was known as The Scotch House, which was proclaimed by a huge sign at the front of the building. Gardiners Corner became a landmark name appearing on bus route signs. The site is part of the Aldgate Place redevelopment.
Date of execution
1972
Section
The London Archives
Collection
LCC Photograph Library
Medium
photograph
Catalogue No
SC_PHL_01_385_LFB9979
London picture map location
Approximate
Subjects
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