East London’s last sailmaker’s loft

Sailmaker's loft East London

Caird & Rayner’s premises at 777 Commercial Rd was built as a sailmakers’ loft and chandlers’ warehouse, and operated for 80-odd years until it closed in 1972 – so its career included the closing days of commercial sailing ships.

It has not substantially altered and remains undeveloped – and apparently largely derelict today.

My thanks to Malcolm Woods for spotting this one.

Read all about it at the wonderful Spitalfields Life website.

PS. Regular reader Nigel of Bexley has written to say there is a sailmaker’s loft at Dagenham, which is within the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. So I guess it could be argued that London has another sailmaker’s loft – or it might be argued that suburban boroughs are something different. Visit the website of Dagenham’s family-run sailmakers: M. Putt (Sailmakers). Thanks Nigel!