Shot Tower

The Shot Tower became the only remaining old building on the Festival of Britain site in 1951.

Royal Festival Hall and Shot Tower c.1959
Credit: Wiki Commons/David Wright

The shot tower - located on a section of Float Mead - was part of a building lease obtained by Henry Warburton, MP, starting in 1824. This tower was constructed in 1826, designed by David Riddal Roper for Thomas Maltby & Co. In 1839, it was taken over by Walkers, Parker & Co., the same firm that operated the square shot tower located to the east of Waterloo Bridge. It remained in their possession as a functioning facility until 1949.

The tower was constructed using stock brick and has a slight taper, with a diameter of 30 feet at the base where the wall is 3 feet thick, and a diameter of 20 feet at the gallery, where the wall thickness reduced to 18 inches. The gallery was situated 163 feet above the ground and was accessible via a spiral staircase that is cantilevered from the inside face of the wall. The tower featured a floor at the halfway level where lead was previously melted and dropped to create small shot.

In 1950, the gallery chamber was demolished, and a steel-framed superstructure was erected to serve as a radio beacon for the Festival of Britain.

The tower was demolished in 1962 to make way for the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which opened in 1967. It was a prominent landmark on the river and featured in a number of paintings, including by J. M. W. Turner.

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NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

Embankment Embankment underground station has been known by various names during its long history - including, indeed, ’Embankment’.

Embankment

Embankment to Charing Cross walk Arguably the shortest walk between two stations of the London Underground

Embankment to Charing Cross walk

Hole In the Wall The Hole In The Wall is a local Waterloo institution.

Hole In the Wall

Hungerford Bridge Hungerford Bridge is a rail bridge crossing the Thames into Charing Cross station.

Hungerford Bridge

Hungerford Stairs The Hungerford Stairs were the entrance point to Hungerford Market from the River Thames. They are now the site of Charing Cross railway Station.

Hungerford Stairs

The Adelphi The Adelphi is a small district surrounding the streets of Adelphi Terrace, Robert Street and John Adam Street.

The Adelphi

Waterloo London Waterloo station is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is one of 18 in Britain owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames.

Waterloo

NEARBY STREETS

Adam Street, WC2N Adam Street is named after John and Robert Adam, who built the Adelphi development in the 1760s (Charing Cross)

Adam Street, WC2N

Adelphi Terrace, WC2N Adelphi Terrace is named after John and Robert Adam, who built the Adelphi development in the 1760s (Embankment)

Adelphi Terrace, WC2N

Alaska Street, SE1 Alaska Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Waterloo)

Alaska Street, SE1

Aquinas Street, SE1 Aquinas Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area (South Bank)

Aquinas Street, SE1

Beaufort’s Buildings, WC2R Beaufort’s Buildings was replaced by Savoy Court (Charing Cross)

Beaufort’s Buildings, WC2R

Belvedere Crescent, SE1 Belvedere Crescent used to run off Belvedere Road (South Bank)

Belvedere Crescent, SE1

Belvedere Road, SE1 Belvedere Road was laid out between 1814 and 1827 (South Bank)

Belvedere Road, SE1

Boyce Street, SE1 Anne Street was renamed Boyce Street in 1911 (Waterloo)

Boyce Street, SE1

Brad Street, SE1 Brad Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (South Bank)

Brad Street, SE1

Brettenham House, WC2R Brettenham House is a block on Savoy Street (Charing Cross)

Brettenham House, WC2R

Buckingham Street, WC2N Buckingham Street is named after George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (Charing Cross)

Buckingham Street, WC2N

Buckley Street, SE1 Frances Street was renamed Buckley Street in 1937 but disappeared from the map in the 1950s (Waterloo)

Buckley Street, SE1

Bull Inn Court, WC2E Bull Inn Court lies north off Strand (Covent Garden)

Bull Inn Court, WC2E

Carting Lane, WC2R Carting Lane is thought to be named after the carts that brought goods to and from the wharf formerly located here. (Charing Cross)

Carting Lane, WC2R

Casson Square, SE1 Casson Square is a square of South Bank buildings (South Bank)

Casson Square, SE1

Cecil Street, WC2N Cecil Street was built on the site of Cecil House (Charing Cross)

Cecil Street, WC2N

Charles Court, WC2N Charles Court ran between Villiers Street and Hungerford Market (Charing Cross)

Charles Court, WC2N

Chicheley Street, SE1 Henry Chichele was a 15th-century Archbishop of Canterbury. (Waterloo)

Chicheley Street, SE1

Coin Street, SE1 Coin Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (South Bank)

Coin Street, SE1

Concert Hall Approach, SE1 Concert Hall Approach ’does what it says on the tin’ (South Bank)

Concert Hall Approach, SE1

Cornwall Flats, SE1 Cornwall Flats is a block on Cornwall Road (Waterloo)

Cornwall Flats, SE1

Cornwall Road, SE1 According to John Norden’s description in 1615, there was a lane running northwest towards the Thames, following the approximate path of the modern Cornwall Road (South Bank)

Cornwall Road, SE1

Curtis Green Building, SW1A Curtis Green Building can be found on Victoria Embankment (Westminster)

Curtis Green Building, SW1A

Doon Street, SE1 Doon Street is a road in the SE1 postcode area (South Bank)

Doon Street, SE1

Doreen Ramsey Court, SE1 Doreen Ramsey Court is a block on The Cut (Waterloo)

Doreen Ramsey Court, SE1

Duchy Street, SE1 Duchy Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (South Bank)

Duchy Street, SE1

Durham House Street, WC2N Durham House Street was the former site of a palace belonging to the bishops of Durham in medieval times. (Charing Cross)

Durham House Street, WC2N

Edward Henry House, SE1 Edward Henry House is a block on Cornwall Road (South Bank)

Edward Henry House, SE1

Elizabeth House, SE1 Elizabeth House is a block on York Road (Waterloo)

Elizabeth House, SE1

Embankment Place, WC2N Embankment Place runs from Villiers Street, under a railway arch, on to Northumberland Avenue (Embankment)

Embankment Place, WC2N

Ethelm House, SE1 Ethelm House is a block on Cornwall Road (Waterloo)

Ethelm House, SE1

Exchange Court, WC2E Exchange Court leads south from Maiden Lane (Covent Garden)

Exchange Court, WC2E

Exton Street, SE1 Exton Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (South Bank)

Exton Street, SE1

Fox Under Hill Alley, WC2N Fox Under Hill Alley ran alongside Cecil House and later Salisbury Street (Charing Cross)

Fox Under Hill Alley, WC2N

FranklinWilkins Building, SE1 FranklinWilkins Building is sited on Stamford Street (South Bank)

FranklinWilkins Building, SE1

Gabriels Wharf, SE1 Gabriels Wharf is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (South Bank)

Gabriels Wharf, SE1

George Court, WC2N George Court is named after George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (Charing Cross)

George Court, WC2N

Golden Jubilee Bridge, WC2N Golden Jubilee Bridge is a road in the WC2N postcode area (River Thames)

Golden Jubilee Bridge, WC2N

Griffin Street, SE1 Griffin Street was marked on maps between the 1820s and the 1950s (Waterloo)

Griffin Street, SE1

Half Moon Street, WC2N Half Moon Street was an old name for the lower portion of Bedford Street (Charing Cross)

Half Moon Street, WC2N

Heathcock Court, WC2E Heathcock Court runs north off Strand (Covent Garden)

Heathcock Court, WC2E

Henry House, SE1 Henry House is a building on Coin Street (South Bank)

Henry House, SE1

Horse Guards Avenue, SW1A Horse Guards Avenue stretches from Whitehall to the Embankment (Westminster)

Horse Guards Avenue, SW1A

Howley Street, SE1 Howley Street ran between Tenison Street and Sutton Street (Waterloo)

Howley Street, SE1

Howley Terrace, SE1 Howley Place was renamed as Howley Terrace in 1939 (South Bank)

Howley Terrace, SE1

Hungerford House, WC2N Residential block (Embankment)

Hungerford House, WC2N

Hungerford Lane, WC2N Hungerford Lane was a dark narrow alley that went alongside and then under Charing Cross Station (Charing Cross)

Hungerford Lane, WC2N

Ivybridge Lane, WC2N Ivybridge Lane is named after a former ivy-covered bridge (Charing Cross)

Ivybridge Lane, WC2N

James Clerk Maxwell Building, SE1 James Clerk Maxwell Building is a block on Waterloo Road (South Bank)

James Clerk Maxwell Building, SE1

John Adam House, WC2N John Adam House can be found on John Adam Street (Charing Cross)

John Adam House, WC2N

John Adam Street, WC2N John Adam Street is named after John Adam, who built the Adelphi development with his brother Robert in the 1760s (Charing Cross)

John Adam Street, WC2N

Kent House, SE1 Kent House is a block on Upper Ground (South Bank)

Kent House, SE1

Kipling House, WC2N Kipling House is a block on Villiers Street (Charing Cross)

Kipling House, WC2N

Manners Street, SE1 Manners Street ran northeast off Vine Street (South Bank)

Manners Street, SE1

Mepham Street, SE1 Mepham Street is one of many streets in the area named after Archbishops of Canterbury (Waterloo)

Mepham Street, SE1

Miller Walk, SE1 Miller Walk is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (South Bank)

Miller Walk, SE1

Narrow Wall, SE1 Narrow Wall was, by the Tudor period, a road on the line of the old earth embankment of the River Thames (South Bank)

Narrow Wall, SE1

National Film Theatre, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (South Bank)

National Film Theatre, SE1

Old Barge House Alley, SE1 This is an article about Old Barge House Alley (South Bank)

Old Barge House Alley, SE1

Oxo Tower Wharf, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (South Bank)

Oxo Tower Wharf, SE1

Robert Street, WC2N Robert Street is named after Robert Adam, who built the Adelphi development with his brother John in the 1760s (Embankment)

Robert Street, WC2N

Roupell Street, SE1 Roupell Street was developed by John Palmer Roupell during the 1820s. (South Bank)

Roupell Street, SE1

Salisbury Street, WC2N Salisbury Street was named after Robert Cecil, the first Earl of Salisbury (Charing Cross)

Salisbury Street, WC2N

Samford Street, SE1 Samford Street is a road in the NW8 postcode area (South Bank)

Samford Street, SE1

Sandell Street, SE1 Sandell Street is named after a Mr Sandell, who owned warehouses here in the 1860s (Waterloo)

Sandell Street, SE1

Savoy Court, WC2R Savoy Court is a modern name for Beaufort Buildings (Charing Cross)

Savoy Court, WC2R

Savoy Hill, WC2R Savoy Hill is located at a site originally called Savoy Manor (Charing Cross)

Savoy Hill, WC2R

Savoy Place, WC2N Savoy Place is located at a site originally called Savoy Manor - taking its name from Peter II, Count of Savoy. (Charing Cross)

Savoy Place, WC2N

Savoy Street, WC2E Savoy Street is final street east off Strand before the approach road to Waterloo Bridge (Charing Cross)

Savoy Street, WC2E

Savoy Way, WC2R Savoy Way is located on the former site of the Savoy Palace, built for Peter II, Count of Savoy in 1245. (Charing Cross)

Savoy Way, WC2R

Secker Street, SE1 Secker Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (South Bank)

Secker Street, SE1

Shell Mex House, WC2N Shell Mex House is a grade II listed building located at 80 Strand (Charing Cross)

Shell Mex House, WC2N

South Bank, SE1 South Bank is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (South Bank)

South Bank, SE1

Southbank Centre Square, SE1 Southbank Centre Square is a road in the SE1 postcode area (South Bank)

Southbank Centre Square, SE1

Southbank, SE1 Southbank is a road in the SE9 postcode area (South Bank)

Southbank, SE1

Stamford Street Apartments, SE1 This block stands on Stamford Street (South Bank)

Stamford Street Apartments, SE1

Stamford Street, SE1 Stamford Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (South Bank)

Stamford Street, SE1

Station Approach, SE1 Station Approach serves Waterloo station (Waterloo)

Station Approach, SE1

Strand, WC2E Strand (or the Strand) runs just over 3⁄4 mile from Trafalgar Square eastwards to Temple Bar, where the road becomes Fleet Street inside the City of London (Charing Cross)

Strand, WC2E

Sutton Walk, SE1 Sutton Walk - formerly Sutton Street until 1939 - was redeveloped as part of Concert Hall Approach (South Bank)

Sutton Walk, SE1

Tenison Street, SE1 Tenison Street was lost during the construction of the Shell buildings (South Bank)

Tenison Street, SE1

The Arches, WC2N The Arches runs directly under Charing Cross station as a short cut from Villiers Street to Northumberland Avenue (Charing Cross)

The Arches, WC2N

The Balcony, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Waterloo)

The Balcony, SE1

The Colonnade, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Waterloo)

The Colonnade, SE1

The Queen’s Walk, SE1 The Queen’s Walk is a road in the SE1 postcode area (South Bank)

The Queen’s Walk, SE1

The Terrace, SW1A The Terrace is a road in the SW1A postcode area (Westminster)

The Terrace, SW1A

The Tower Building, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (Waterloo)

The Tower Building, SE1

Theed Street, SE1 Theed Street was one of the local streets developed by John Roupell (South Bank)

Theed Street, SE1

Upper Ground, SE1 Upper Ground is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (South Bank)

Upper Ground, SE1

Victoria Embankment, SW1A Victoria Embankment leads north out of the Westminster area (River Thames)

Victoria Embankment, SW1A

Victoria Embankment, WC2N Victoria Embankment was built as part of Joseph Bazalgette’s Embankment scheme (Embankment)

Victoria Embankment, WC2N

Victoria Embankment, WC2R Victoria Embankment runs from the Houses of Parliament to Blackfriars Bridge (Temple)

Victoria Embankment, WC2R

Villiers Street, WC2N Villiers Street was named after George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (Charing Cross)

Villiers Street, WC2N

Vine Street, SE1 Vine Street roughly followed the route of the contemporary pathway between York Road and the South Bank, beside Waterloo underground station (South Bank)

Vine Street, SE1

Watergate Walk, WC2N Watergate Walk is named after a former watergate built in 1626 for George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham as an entrance for the former York House (Embankment)

Watergate Walk, WC2N

Waterloo Bridge, SE1 Waterloo Bridge is a road in the WC2R postcode area (South Bank)

Waterloo Bridge, SE1

Waterloo Bridge, SE1 Waterloo Bridge, as well as being the bridge itself, lends its name to the southern approach road (South Bank)

Waterloo Bridge, SE1

Waterloo Centre, SE1 Waterloo Centre is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Waterloo)

Waterloo Centre, SE1

Waterloo Court, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (South Bank)

Waterloo Court, SE1

Wayerloo Court, SE1 A street within the SE1 postcode (South Bank)

Wayerloo Court, SE1

Whichcote Street, SE1 In the first years of the 19th century three streets of stock brick, terraced houses were laid out and named Anne Street, Agnes Street and Frances Street (Waterloo)

Whichcote Street, SE1

Whitehouse Apartments, SE1 Whitehouse Apartments is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (South Bank)

Whitehouse Apartments, SE1

Whittlesey Street, SE1 Whittlesey Street dates from the 1830s (South Bank)

Whittlesey Street, SE1

Windmill Walk, SE1 Windmill Walk stretches north and south of the Roupell Street Conservation Area (Waterloo)

Windmill Walk, SE1

Wootton Street, SE1 Wootton Street is one of the streets of London in the SE1 postal area (Waterloo)

Wootton Street, SE1

York Buildings, WC2N York Buildings marks a house was built on this site in the 14th century for the bishops of Norwich (Embankment)

York Buildings, WC2N

York Place, WC2N York Place marks the location of a house on this site (Charing Cross)

York Place, WC2N

York Road, SE1 York Road skirts the western edge of Waterloo station (Waterloo)

York Road, SE1

Zimbabwe House, WC2N Charles Holden designed this building located on the corner of Agar Street and Strand for the British Medical Association. (Charing Cross)

Zimbabwe House, WC2N

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