Industrial History Online

Hope Chemical Works Wall

Key Words :- works

Address :- White Post Lane/Wallis Road, London, Greater London
Grid Ref :- TQ 37019 84522
Co-ordinates :- Lat 51.542969 , Long -0.025531
Local Authority :- Tower Hamlets London Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- London
Site Status :- Site extant - No Protection
Site Dates :- 1891 -

Description and History of Site:-
The walled island block between White Post Lane and Wallis Road is the remains of the pioneering Carless, Capel and Leonard’s Hope Chemical Works, established in 1859. It became the country’s main crude petroleum distillery, coining the word petrol for its product in 1893 and also supplying dry cleaning fluid to the local industry. The walls date from 1891.


Further Reading and References:-
Smith, Tim and Carr, Bob. 'A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Hertfordshire and the Lea Valley'. Association for Industrial Archaeology, 2004
Hackney Wick and the Old Ford Area Characterisation Study and Assessment of Key Buildings Compiled for EDAW Ltd


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Contributor :- GLIAS Database - 14 June 2026
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