Conservation & Heritage Issue 49 October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 83
When the Truman Brewery bought the two properties,
structural engineers, Alan Baxter Associates were
engaged to assess the buildings and recommend necessary
interventions. The restoration plan, developed by Chris
Dyson Architects, prioritised safety and functionality, while
aiming to retain as much of the building’s original character
as possible. The Spitalfields Trust, Historic England and the
London Borough of Tower Hamlets were consulted during
the planning phase.
Rory Dack, Director, Alan Baxter Associates, “…the two
former silk weavers’ houses at the northern end of Brick Lane
are rare survivors of 18th-century Spitalfields. No. 115 had been
gutted by fire, leaving only its external walls, while parts of No.
113’s Grade II listed timber roof and attic had collapsed. One was
on Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register, with demolition
previously recommended.”
Given the urgency of the situation, the front elevation of 113
had to be partially dismantled and rebuilt, with temporary
works installed to stabilise the building. Alongside these
structural repairs came the careful removal and preservation
of historic interior elements. Features such as staircases,
skirtings, and timber panelling were methodically and
painstakingly numbered and stored on-site at the Truman
Brewery for conservation and later reinstallation. These
efforts were closely monitored by Historic England, to
confirm that the process met required heritage standards.
As Chris Dyson, Principal of Chris Dyson Architects
explains: “These buildings, and the stories they tell of the lives of
the weavers that lived there, are such an important part of East
End history. This was a conservation project of some urgency, in
terms of securing the façade. Then came the forensic process of
analysis and rescuing individual elements; finding a way to express
this history in a way that would made sense in the buildings’ future
and support new uses.”
The restoration also included safety and environmental
updates, such as applying intumescent paint to the original
timbers to meet fire regulations, a necessary step in bringing
the building up to current standards without compromising
its historic fabric. To improve energy performance, lime
mortar and render were added to the exterior, the windows
were double glazed and insulation was added behind
panelling and in the roof.
Rory Dack, ABA: “Through meticulous structural surveys, we
salvaged key elements including original timber floors, a spiral
stair, fireplaces, and the party walls. Collaborating with Chris
Dyson Architects, we also repurposed timber beams from No. 115
to restore No. 113. The ground floors now feature glass shopfronts
reminiscent of their original design, bringing light to the ground
floor and life back to the streetscape.”
In 1868, Edward Fuller walked up from Woodbridge in Su昀昀olk to work as a
carpenter in Walthamstow where he formed his own business four years later.
Since that date, the family company had continued to build and refurbish a wide
range of buildings, from houses costing £130.00 each in 1886 to the repair of over
450 listed buildings since the millennium.
020 8520 2275
www.fullersbuilders.co.uk
