The Alchemist, Battersea
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The Alchemist is a former pub at 225 St John's Hill, Battersea, London, that was controversially demolished in May 2015 after over 100 years in business.[1]
It was originally called The Fishmongers' Arms,[1] and was built in 1854.[2]
Planning permission was granted in 2011 for 6 flats above existing pub. The pub closed in 2013, when construction started in 2015 the existing structure was found unsafe and demolished with the intention to rebuild a facsimile which is what stands today. Wandsworth Council regarded the demolition as having taken place without planning permission to demolish, and called it a "very serious breach" of council rules, and "unjustified".[1] The council ordered developer Udhyam Amim to rebuild the pub and restore it to its appearance prior to demolition, albeit that this was the stated intention. [3]
The demolition was compared to that of the Carlton Tavern in Kilburn, north London, which was demolished in April the same year.[1] The Carlton Tavern was subsequently rebuilt and re-opened following a community campaign and planning appeals.[4]
In July 2018 the building was restored and the commercial ground floor provides community nursery facilities.[5] In October that year its owners applied for planning permission to make the building into a shop, office or food establishment, but planners rejected the application, ruling that the change of use would "result in the loss of a public house of historic and community value".[6] This rejection was later appealed and the building's classification was changed to D2, "assembly and leisure".[7]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Watts, Matt (9 July 2015). "Developer 'must rebuild demolished Alchemist pub' in Battersea". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- ^ "St John's Hill Area" (PDF). English Heritage. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- ^ "Developer ordered to rebuild Battersea pub submits new housing plan". 24 June 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Rising from the rubble: London pub rebuilt brick by brick after illegal bulldozing". The Guardian. 21 March 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "Demolished Battersea Pub Restored". Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
- ^ Mehta, Amar (17 December 2018). "Wandsworth Council continue to support local pubs". Wandsworth Times. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ "Rebuilt historical pub to change use". Retrieved 3 December 2021.
External links[edit]
- "Alchemist, Clapham Junction, SW11". flickr.com. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- "Can demolished pubs come back from the dead? - BBC News". BBC News. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- Pubs in the London Borough of Wandsworth
- Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Wandsworth
- 2015 in London
- Battersea
- Commercial buildings completed in 1854
- 1854 establishments in England
- Buildings and structures demolished in 2015
- Demolished buildings and structures in London
- Former pubs in London