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Greywolf Studios

Greywolf Studios

 

St Anne’s Conservation Area

The St Anne’s Church Conservation Area was designated in July 1969 to safeguard the visual setting of the church, which is a focal point in Limehouse. The Conservation Area contains Grade II listed buildings such as the Limehouse Town Hall and Library and features Nicholas Hawkmoor’s St Anne’s Church, Limehouse (Ecclesiastical Grade A listed). It is bounded by Commercial Road to the north and the Docklands Light Railway line (once the old London and Blackwall Railway viaduct) to the south, with the Limehouse Cut and Three Colt Street running north-south through it.

The historic St Anne’s Church yard contains mature trees and a Grade II listed war memorial. In 1802–4, Commercial Road was laid out through open fields as a quick and direct route between the City of London and the new East and West India Docks. This junction was constructed in order to bring together three new main thoroughfares of the East End; namely East India Dock Road, West India Dock Road and Commercial Road.

 
 

  • The prevailing character of the St Anne’s Church Conservation Area is defined by the mixed uses of principal public buildings of Limehouse amongst a more recent residential townscape. There remains an acknowledgement of the maritime history and strong industrial character with the DLR line and old viaduct and the Limehouse Cut dividing the area, creating pockets of land around the centralised St Anne’s Church yard. The church has formed a landmark in this part of the Borough since its construction. St Anne’s prominence has been secured by the significant group of listed buildings which surround it and which are respectfully low scale and urban in character. 

  • To the west of the church, the Grade II listed Town Hall and former British Sailors Society (at Nelson’s Wharf) on either side of Newell Street, reiterate the district’s once civil importance. These have now changed to residential use, taking advantage of the views and amenity of the evolving residential status in Limehouse. 

  • The buildings in the St Anne’s Conservation Area provide an appropriately low-rise context for the tower that rises above St Anne’s Church. The western approach to the church is along St Anne’s passage, a narrow cobbled lane leading straight to the main entrance stairs of the church. This is the most spectacular approach to St Anne’s, with the huge scale of the church standing in sharp contrast to the modest 18th century 2-3 scale of the approach lane. 

  • Care for St Anne’s was launched in 1978 under the Rectorship of Rev. Christopher Idle.