A view looking towards Commercial Road, Stepney, taken from inside the former Commercial Road Goods Depot. The depot entranceway has columns each side, with a gate that has the name Heyland Haulage Ltd. The cobbled roadway led into the shunting yard of the depot, which had ground-level vaults with viaduct-level sidings, a branch line and goods station below a colossal warehouse. It was built between 1884 and 1887 by The London, Tilbury and Southend Railway Company as a receiving and forwarding depot for merchandise dealt with at the East and West India Dock Company's Tilbury Docks. From 1923 the lower levels served as general stores and the warehouse above was bonded and used by The Port of London Authority. It ceased operations in 1967 and was demolished in 1975. The site was redeveloped as a computer centre for National Westminster Bank, which in turn made way for high-level housing. The area seen here, within the gates, is now the site of Chaucer Gardens and Meranti House. Behind the gate and security shed is the side elevation of the former Worshipful Company of Gunmakers' Hall, part of the Grade II listed Gunmakers' Proof House complex at 46-50 Commercial Road; listing number 1239992. Behind the brick wall on the left is Goodman's Stile and The Castle public house. Businesses seen on Commercial Road are Innovation Trading Co, Roy Manufacturing, and Mecca Bookmakers. Overshadowing these is the former St Georges Brewery, and latterly Johnnie Walkers warehouse. This building now forms part of the HULT International Business School campus.
