Whats this building?

[undergroundernie]

Whilst on a walkabout around Tower Hill I stumbled upon a curious lineside structure just to the west of Tower Gateway DLR station. Unfortunately I havent figured out how to attach photos to messages so if anyone cares to explain it would be much appreciated. The structure is sited on the junction of Mansell street and Royal Mint street where there was a carpark. Any ideas guys?

[Chris M]

See the Inserting images tutorial in the help and how-tos section of the forum.

[cetacean]

Was it this?

[slugabed]

Withut a picture I can't be 100% certain,but if it is an oblong building hard up against the LT&S railway line and the road underbridge,built in 'Midland red' brick,it's a surviving part of one of the several goods stations which clustered around the London end of the line.It looks too large and substantial to be a signal box,and I suspect it may be a water-tower or a wagon hoist.
If it IS the building I think it is,it used to have writing painted in huge letters saying (if I remember correctly) Minories Goods Station.There were other bits of goods station visible in Hooper St round the corner,and on the other side of Royal Mint St.These were all closed by the 70s when I started exploring,but large chunks were still to be seen as they were at viaduct level and very substantial.All surviving remains on the south side of the line were erased by the DLR in the 80s except a piece of track laid into cobbles by Cable St at ground level,but the beginnings of the curves to the northern goods stations,as they peel away from the main viaduct were certainly visible until a few years ago (don't travel that line often!)
Hope that's of some help.

[Colin]

Oct 29, 2008 23:16:27 GMT slugabed said:

It looks too large and substantial to be a signal box,

The signal box was on the other side of the railway lines

[undergroundernie]

Oct 29, 2008 23:16:27 GMT slugabed said:

Withut a picture I can't be 100% certain,but if it is an oblong building hard up against the LT&S railway line and the road underbridge,built in 'Midland red' brick,it's a surviving part of one of the several goods stations which clustered around the London end of the line.It looks too large and substantial to be a signal box,and I suspect it may be a water-tower or a wagon hoist.
If it IS the building I think it is,it used to have writing painted in huge letters saying (if I remember correctly) Minories Goods Station.There were other bits of goods station visible in Hooper St round the corner,and on the other side of Royal Mint St.These were all closed by the 70s when I started exploring,but large chunks were still to be seen as they were at viaduct level and very substantial.All surviving remains on the south side of the line were erased by the DLR in the 80s except a piece of track laid into cobbles by Cable St at ground level,but the beginnings of the curves to the northern goods stations,as they peel away from the main viaduct were certainly visible until a few years ago (don't travel that line often!)
Hope that's of some help.

At present there is alot of scaffold surrounding the structure not sure whats going on with it but Im pretty sure were both talking about the same building. Another feature is a series of narrow windows around the top of the structure. Many thanks for your response you have been a great help its such a shame these structures are being removed as they are part of our railway history.
Is it true that this was the site of the original Minories Railway station?

[slugabed]

I believe Minories passenger station was a little to the West of this site,but I would need confirmation of this. Cetacean has posted a link to a picture which is definitely the building I am talking about,and the site linked says it was an accumulator tower for hydraulic power.There's another one of these next to the railway viaduct at Limehouse Basin.I suspect our one must be listed or otherwise protected,as it has always seemed to be a remarkable survival whilst everything else around it got knocked down and replaced,though I'm sure it isn't near the top of its ownwer's spending priorities,hence its derelict look; I take the appearance of scafflding as a good sign!

[Oracle]

A bit of recall, and research....I believe Tower Bridge used hydraulic power so it made it easier:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Hydraulic_Power_Company
www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/h/hydraulic_power_in_london/index1.shtml
Is that your building near the Mint and next to the LTS?

[undergroundernie]

Great stuff the very same building it looks a little more worse for wear these days though the roof has pretty much gone all that remains is the rotting timbers the lettering has mostly worn off now as well but all in all still a fine example of Londons fading railway heritage. Cheers guys thanks for your help.