The former factory, built around 1889 was once the thriving home to one of London’s premier blacking services, Day and Martin. The earliest and biggest company in the UK to commercially exploit manufactured blacking, it was a monumentally wealthy company in the early 1800’s – and has survived in one form or another for over two hundred years.

The Williams Restoration brickwork division were brought onto this project to complete and assist in the internal restoration and conservation of this 18th century building. Using historically matched Lime mortars and bricks, Williams Restoration adapted doorways, carried out several brick repairs and completed a substantial amount of repointing. This was all done with history in mind. The bricks and mortar were meticulously matched, as was the pointing finish to give this building a new lease of life.

Project location: Southwark, London
Client: Shield