Urban Gallery

Night scene JLP01_08_064434

PATERNOSTER SQUARE, CITY OF LONDON. A night-time view looking south-east across the Paternoster development, showing the site during construction with St Paul's Cathedral in the background.
Work on the Paternoster development was carried out in a joint venture by John Laing Construction Limited, Trollope and Colls Limited, and George Wimpey and Company Limited. The scheme involved the redevelopment of a seven acre site on the north side of St Paul's Cathedral. The site had been almost entirely devastated during an incendiary raid in December 1940. The development consisted of a series of office blocks, a shopping precinct, an extensive piazza and a three-level car park. The various blocks were named after former Bishops of London. The tallest block was 18-storeys in height and was called Sudbury House. The three 10-storey blocks were Courtenay, Walden and Grendall Houses, and the five-storey blocks were Laud, Sheldon and Bancroft Houses

© Historic England Archive

Aylesbury Estate Walworth JLP01_09_761948

Aylesbury Estate, Walworth, Southwark, Greater London. Looking over low-rise blocks of flats and maisonettes during the topping out ceremony of the Southwark Whites contract on the Aylesbury Estate.
The Southwark Whites contract was carried out by Laing's South London Region. In an article published in October 1976 in Laing's monthly newsletter Team Spirit, the site is described as the last housing development to be built by Laing in the 10 year redevelopment of the Aylesbury Estate. It was also to be the last housing development to be built using the 12M Jespersen scheme as the John Laing Concrete factories had all closed and the trend in the country was now for much smaller estates to be built. The Whites scheme consisted of an extension to an existing 14-storey block, but the new buildings were grouped in seven low-rise blocks of flats and maisonettes with more landscaping than the previous schemes

© Historic England Archive

Play Street Pimlico GOM01_05_061_35

Tachbrook Estate, Pimlico, Greater London. Malcolmson House flats viewed from the junction of Grosvenor Road and Aylesford Street. The notice in the foreground announces that this is a play street and vehicles are prohibited except for access. A range of cars and a lorry line one side of the street. Photographed by Andor Gomme in March 1957

© Historic England Archive