EC3 Aldgate, Broadgate, Fenchurch St, Monument, Tower Hill
The Tower of London Improvement Trustby Rose Baillie |
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The history of the Tower Hill Improvement Trust |
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Recent years have seen many changes in the Tower of London’s surroundings, but the desire to enhance people’s experience of the area is an old one. In 1922 the Reverend Philip T. B. Clayton, founder of the Christian welfare organisation Toc H, was appointed Vicar of All Hallows on Tower Hill. ‘Tubby’, as he was known to all, was most unimpressed. The area was strongly influenced by its proximity to docklands and heavily involved with shipping and cargo handling. It was dominated by oppressive Victorian offices and warehouses, Trinity Square was used as a lorry park and his historic old church was completely overshadowed by an ugly edifice known as the Mazawattee Building. Apart from a tacky kiosk, there were few facilities for visitors, either tourists or local people who came at weekends to enjoy street entertainers, soap-box orators or paddling on the muddy foreshore in front of Tower Wharf. There was nothing worthy of the area’s historic importance or its position as the eastern gateway to the City. In his fertile imagination the idea of ‘Tower Hill Improvement’ was born. |
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In 1932 he gained an invaluable ally in Lord Wakefield of Hythe, a former Lord Mayor of London and Proprietor of Castrol Oil. A man with a large fortune and a zealous commitment to public service and upholding the prestige of the City. Active steps began with the publication in 1933 of The Pageant of Tower Hill, by ‘Tubby’ Clayton and the historian Bertram Leftwith, which blended a history of the area with plans for buying up and demolishing the worst eyesores, improving amenities for local workers and visitors and creating a proper children’s beach. Lord Wakefield launched the project’s first major appeal with a speech to the City’s Court of Common Council and by the end of 1934 over 240 public lectures had been given, an office opened and the Tower foreshore opened as the Children’s Beach, by specially permission of King George V, in a ceremony attended by the Lord Mayor, Bishop of London and many other dignitaries. |
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The Council for Tower Hill Improvement rapidly grew into a very large and active organisation with Royal patronage and an impressive role-call of the great and good on its Committees. In 1937 it was re-founded as a charitable trust. The Children’s Beach was its most high-profile project, but the cost of its imported sand, staffing and other features was always met by Lord Wakefield, who was the Trust’s President. He also subsidised lunchtime concerts in the Tower Moat by a British Legion band, to the delight of the public, who were not normally allowed into this forbidden area. This meant that the Trust’s fund raising efforts remained concentrated on improving the Tower’s surroundings. |
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The Trust’s second big project was a Tower Pageant and Tattoo that ran for 13 nights in summer 1935, which was seen by 70,000 spectators. This lavish spectacle featured 2000 performers in 15 items with period music arranged by Dr (later Sir) Malcolm Sargent and spoken parts written by poet/playwright John Drinkwater. Particularly striking were the Great Fire of London re-enacted with burning sulphur, the theft of the Crown Jewels and a historic cricket match that ended in a riot. The Tattoo element was provided by the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers beginning with 6 detachments in different period costumes and finishing with a massed parade with the regimental band, drums and bugles. ‘A brave and beautiful picture indeed’, according to the East London Advertiser. |
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The Trust made significant changes to the Tower area. Their new Patron, Queen Elizabeth came in 1938 to see a children’s playground that was built in the Minories. With play equipment and a drinking fountain, it was the only play area within the City’s limits and it was heavily used by children from nearby poor neighbourhoods. The Wakefield Gardens were created on Tower Hill and active steps taken to preserve and display the segment of Roman London’s city wall now to be seen near the underground station. Stepney Borough Council donated the equivalent of 1d of Rates for work in their zone, which went towards street improvements, drinking fountains and public benches – amazingly none had previously been provided for this most visited area. Queen Mary also supported the Trust, coming to inspect the Beach, see the demolition of an ugly warehouse and be chief guest at a Royal Garden Party at the Tower in 1938. |
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By April 1938 the Trust had received over £118,000 in donations. An amazing £61,255 had come from Lord Wakefield, £6,500 from the Pilgrim Trust, £5,222 from the first Royal Film Premiere held in East Ham and £5,000 each from the City Corporation, the Port of London Authority and Poulter Open Spaces Trust. Many of their target properties were purchased by the outbreak of war, only for them to be damaged or destroyed during the blitz. World War 2 caused a great deal of damage in the neighbourhood, including nearly destroying All Hallows church. Lord Wakefield died in 1941 and the Trust’s plans got caught up in post-war redevelopments. One scheme that was not accepted was to route the main traffic flow around the north of Trinity Square. The Children’s Beach reopened in 1946 and remained in use, with dwindling attendances until 1971. With changing times and most of its objectives either achieved or in others’ hands the Tower Hill Improvement Trust never regained its previous prominence, although Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother remain its Patron until her death. It still exists today, mainly operating as a grant-giving charity for social welfare and youth projects in the Tower locality. |
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*Rose Baillie, City of London Archaeological Society |
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* I have written a short history of the Children’s Beach mentioned in another story. But I am also interested in any other events, such as those mentioned above connected the Trust. If any reader has further information about them has personal recollections I would be pleased to hear from them. I can be contacted through the COLAS website http://www.colas.org.uk or at the Tower Archaeology Weekend 15/16 July 2006. |
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