Tanner Street was named after the noxious local tanneries of Bermondsey - all now gone.
Tanner Street played a crucial role in establishing Bermondsey’s reputation as London’s ’Leather District’. As time progressed, other industries replaced the tanneries and the area began to change. Present-day Tanner Street maintains its historic character through preserved industrial architecture.
Under the Druid Street Arch, on 25 October 1940 a bomb fell through the railway arch, killing 77 people sheltering from an air raid. On a happier note, this is part of the oldest railway viaduct in London. The London and Greenwich Railway opened in 1836 and the local station in Bermondsey was called Spa Road. At the time of opening Spa Road was right on the edge of London with market gardens beyond. The viaduct continued to Deptford.
Tanner Street has been known by other names over the past 500 years: Five Foot Lane and Russell Street.
Bermondsey Parish Council renamed some of its roads to reflect the area’s industry. The former Russell Street became Tanner Street in 1881. Upper Russell Street was renamed Morocco Street in 1897.
Tower Bridge Road opened in 1902, splitting Tanner Street in two.
The Bermondsey Workhouse was located in Tanner Street, finally closing in 1922.
The Dockhead portion of Tanner Street featured in the 1959 film ’The Boy and the Bridge’. Kevin McClory produced and directed, and it starred Ian Maclaine, Liam Redmond, James Hayter, Geoffrey Keen and a youthful Arthur Lowe. During the 2010s, 47 Tanner Street served as a filming location for various television programmes. These included the popular series ’Dragon’s Den’ and ’The Great British Sewing Bee’.
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Tanner Street was named after the noxious local tanneries of Bermondsey - all now gone.
