London 1981
Peter MARSHALL
Gilbey House, Regents Canal, Camden, 1981
28y-56: canal, bridgem warehouse,
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Walter Gilbey was the son of an innkeeper in Bishop's Stortford, born in 1831 and volunteered with his brother Albert as a pay clerk in the Crimean War. When he returned to England his elder brother Henry who was making a good living as a wine merchant, suggested Walter and Albert start a business importing South African wine, on which import duty was low. Henry lent them the money to open the business in a basement in Oxford St in London in 1857, and it was an immediate success, in part because while traditionally wine was sold by the case (12 bottles) they widened its appeal by selling by the bottle.
Three years later, Gladstone made the duty on South African wine equal to that from Europe and other foreign countries, but also allowed the sale of wine in 'Off-Licences', and the Gilbeys quickly appointed grocers and chemists around the country as agents for their wines, which in less than a year made them Britain's third largest wine importer. They moved to new premises, at first on Oxford St. but in 1869 to more spacious warehouses and offices in Camden Town, eventually occupying 20 acres. In the 1880s they took over two Scottish whisky distilleries, and in 1895 they began marketing 'Gilbey's Gin' from their Camden distillery using their own name. Later well-known products included Smirnoff vodka, Hennesey brandy and Croft's port and sherry.
The company became International Distiller and Vintners in 1962 and moved its distillery to Harlow the following year. It was taken over by Grand Met in 1972.
Gilbey House in Oval Road and Jamestown Road was Grade II listed a few days before I took this picture in 1981. The listing text includes:
"1894 by William Hucks with addition of 1937 by Mendelsohn and Chermayeff; for wine importers and gin distillers Gilbey's." and points out that the 1894 block is an early use of reinforced concrete, and that the later building "incorporates technical innovations by consulting engineer Felix Samuely, e.g. the foundations are floated on cork insulation to protect the wine from the vibration of nearby trains. Air conditioning too was incorporated."
Gilbey House was converted into one of Camden's premier blocks of flats, where a two bed flat will cost you around a million pounds.
Three years later, Gladstone made the duty on South African wine equal to that from Europe and other foreign countries, but also allowed the sale of wine in 'Off-Licences', and the Gilbeys quickly appointed grocers and chemists around the country as agents for their wines, which in less than a year made them Britain's third largest wine importer. They moved to new premises, at first on Oxford St. but in 1869 to more spacious warehouses and offices in Camden Town, eventually occupying 20 acres. In the 1880s they took over two Scottish whisky distilleries, and in 1895 they began marketing 'Gilbey's Gin' from their Camden distillery using their own name. Later well-known products included Smirnoff vodka, Hennesey brandy and Croft's port and sherry.
The company became International Distiller and Vintners in 1962 and moved its distillery to Harlow the following year. It was taken over by Grand Met in 1972.
Gilbey House in Oval Road and Jamestown Road was Grade II listed a few days before I took this picture in 1981. The listing text includes:
"1894 by William Hucks with addition of 1937 by Mendelsohn and Chermayeff; for wine importers and gin distillers Gilbey's." and points out that the 1894 block is an early use of reinforced concrete, and that the later building "incorporates technical innovations by consulting engineer Felix Samuely, e.g. the foundations are floated on cork insulation to protect the wine from the vibration of nearby trains. Air conditioning too was incorporated."
Gilbey House was converted into one of Camden's premier blocks of flats, where a two bed flat will cost you around a million pounds.