Butler's Wharf facts for kids
Butler's Wharf is a historic building in London, England. It is located on the south bank of the River Thames, very close to the famous Tower Bridge. This large building now contains luxury apartments and many restaurants. It sits between an area called Shad Thames and the Thames Path, offering great views of the bridge and St Katharine Docks across the river. Sometimes, "Butler's Wharf" is also used to describe the whole area around the building. It is a "Grade II listed building," which means it's an important historic site that is protected.
History of Butler's Wharf
Butler's Wharf was first built a long time ago, in 1873. It was designed by James Tolley and Daniel Dale. Its main job was to be a huge wharf and warehouse. This meant it was a place where ships could unload their goods from the Port of London. These goods were then stored in the warehouse.
A Place for Artists
Years later, from 1975 to 1978, a part of Butler's Wharf became a special place for artists. It was used for early video art and performance art in the UK. Many artists, like Kevin Atherton and Stephen Partridge, showed their work here. Even famous people like Derek Jarman used the space. A band called X-Ray Spex filmed their music video for the song "Identity" inside and on the roof of the building in 1978.
From Warehouse to Homes
After a while, Butler's Wharf was no longer used as a warehouse. It became empty and started to fall apart. But then, it was given a new life! The building was changed into modern apartments, with restaurants and shops on the ground floor. The main building, now known as 34 Shad Thames, was finished in 1989. This big change helped to bring the area back to life. Other nearby buildings, like the Clove Building and Tea Trade Wharf, were also updated in the years that followed.
