Alaska
Factory, Bermondsey, London
Architect
|
Wallis, Gilbert
& Partners |
Date
Built
|
1932
|
Location
|
Grange Road
& Bacon Grove
|
Description
|
This Alaska fur
factory building was designed by the
architectural practice of Wallis, Gilbert
& Partners that was responsible for the
Firestone and Hoover Factories, as well as the
Victoria Coach Station. The factory
belonged to the firm of C. W. Martin and Sons
Ltd that had traded in furs from 1873 when it
took over a company originally started by John
Moritz Oppenheim in 1823. Prominent
among the furs they processed were sealskins
that originally derived from Antarctica but
later from Alaska and Canada.
Where you see Alaska on the tower it once
said MARTIN'S.
The "tigergrowl.wordpress.com" website has a
interesting account of the factory's
history. It points out that war work was
undertaken at the factory on a large scale, "...
No fewer than 345,000 sheepskins were
processed for manufacture into flying
suits for the R.A.F., plus 100,000 linings
for flying coats. In addition, 140,000 of
the sheepskin flying suits were
reconditioned for the R.A.F. and 38,000
for the U.S. air force. Among more
specialised tasks were the making for the
R.A.F. of 3,000 hoods with special yellow
colouring for air-sea rescue
identification, and bunk rugs and clothing
for Mrs Churchill’s Aid to Russia Fund.
Winston Churchill himself was photographed
wearing a Martin’s sealskin hat."
The factory closed in the
1960s and was converted into apartments.
|
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