View source for Commercial Road

{{Short description|Street in London, England}}
{{other uses}}
{{Distinguish|Commercial Street, London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{infobox street
| image       = Commercial Road, Limehouse - geograph.org.uk - 2441228.jpg
| caption     = Commercial Road facing the former [[Limehouse station#Limehouse curve|Limehouse Curve]]
| length_mi   = 1.9
| length_ref  = <ref name=map>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/51.511894,-0.0282065/51.5156116,-0.0706436/@51.5150503,-0.0706748,17.46z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0|title=817 Commercial Rd to Central House|website=Google Maps}}</ref>
| part_of     = [[A13 road (England)|A13]]
| terminus_a  = [[Whitechapel High Street]]
| terminus_b  = [[East India Dock Road]]
| construction_start_date = 1802
| completion_date = 1806
| coordinates = {{Coord|51.5127444|-0.0371536|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}
| map_type    = United Kingdom London Tower Hamlets
| map_caption = Location within London
}}

'''Commercial Road''' is a street in the [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets]] in the [[East End of London]]. It is {{Convert|1.9|mi}} long, running from Gardiner's Corner (previously the site of [[Gardiner's (department store)|Gardiners department store]], and now [[Aldgate East tube station|Aldgate East Underground station]]), through [[Stepney]] to the junction with [[Burdett Road]] in [[Limehouse]] at which point the route splits into the [[East India Dock Road]] and the [[West India Dock Road]]. It is an artery connecting the [[City of London]] with [[Canary Wharf]] and part of the [[A13 road (Great Britain)|A13]].

The road contains several [[listed buildings]]. These include the [[George Tavern]], the [[Troxy]] cinema, the [[Limehouse Town Hall]], the former Caird and Rayner Ltd works and the Albert Gardens estate.

==Route==
Commercial Road starts at a junction with [[Whitechapel High Street]] (the [[A11 road (England)|A11]] close to [[Aldgate East tube station]]. It heads east, crossing the [[Limehouse Basin]], the [[Regents Canal]] and the [[Limehouse Cut]]. At [[Burdett Road]], the road forks in two, with [[East India Dock Road]] continuing to the left and [[West India Dock Road]] to the right.<ref name=map/>

London Buses routes 15, 115 and [[London Buses route 135|135]] run along Commercial Road.<ref name=map/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/15/|title = 15 bus route}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/115/|title=115 bus route}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/135/|title=135 bus route}}</ref>

==History==
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = Roads from West India Docks Act 1802
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = 
| year = 1802
| citation = [[42 Geo. 3]]. c. ci
| introduced_commons = 
| introduced_lords = 
| territorial_extent = 
| royal_assent = 22 June 1802
| commencement = 
| expiry_date = 
| repeal_date = 
| amends = 
| replaces = 
| amendments = 
| repealing_legislation = {{ubli|[[Commercial and East India and Barking Roads Act 1828]]}}
| related_legislation = 
| status = repealed
| legislation_history = 
| theyworkforyou = 
| millbankhansard = 
| original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Geo3/42/101/pdfs/ukla_18020101_en.pdf
| revised_text = 
| use_new_UK-LEG = 
| UK-LEG_title = 
| collapsed = yes
}}
[[File:The George Tavern - 373 Commercial Road, London.jpg|thumb|left|The [[George Tavern]]]]

Commercial Road was constructed in 1802–1806 as a direct route to link dock traffic between the [[West India Docks]] and [[East India Docks]] to the City of London. The '''{{visible anchor|Roads from West India Docks Act 1802}}''' ([[42 Geo. 3]]. c. ci) awarded construction to the Commercial Road Company, whose trustees were allowed to raise money and levy tolls.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2007|p=4}} The road originally began at Back Church Lane and cut a straight line across fields north of the busy [[The Highway (London)|Ratcliffe Highway]], taking advantage of land cleared by a major fire in 1794 that had destroyed a large part of the neighbourhood.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2007|p=4}}{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2009|p=4}} By the 1830s it was almost entirely lined with houses all the way to Limehouse.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2007|p=4}}

In 1828, the Commercial Road Company built a tramway from Aberdeen granite along the road, to alleviate traffic concerns. The [[London and Blackwall Railway]] was built parallel to Commercial Road; along with the numerous factories, this caused the street to become overcrowded and polluted.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2007|p=5}}

In the 1860s Commercial Road became a public road, with ownership transferring to the [[Metropolitan Board of Works]] (MBW), and road tolls were abolished.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2007|p=5}} In 1870, the MBW extended the street westwards to Gardiner's Corner, where it met [[Whitechapel High Street]] and [[Commercial Street, London|Commercial Street]].{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=203}} This junction remained in place until Gardner's was destroyed in a fire in the early 1970s.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2007|p=5}}

In 1943, Commercial Road was marked for improvement in the [[County of London Plan]], after much of the surrounding area had been destroyed by bombing. Numerous side streets south of the road towards Ratcliffe Highway were cleared of slums and replaced with modern housing.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2007|p=5}} The Commercial Road Conservation Area was established by the [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets]] in 1989. It is focused on numerous [[listed building]]s around Nos.&nbsp;300–334 about halfway along the road.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2007|p=4}}<ref>{{NHLE|num=1065227|desc=300–334, Commercial Road|accessdate=25 October 2019}}</ref>

==Buildings==
[[File:Limehouse Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 788445.jpg|thumb|left|[[Limehouse Town Hall]]]]
The [[George Tavern]] is at No.&nbsp;373. It was built around 1820–25 on the site of an earlier pub, the Halfway House, which had been established since at least 1654. It became [[listed building|Grade II listed]] in 1973.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2007|p=7}}<ref name="NHLE entry">{{NHLE|num=1240090 |desc=|accessdate=10 March 2015}}</ref>

Albert Gardens lies to the south of Commercial Road. It was laid out in the early 19th century, originally named Albert Square Garden, and has largely survived intact into the 21st century.{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=203}} The square consists of three sides of three-storey residential buildings constructed in the 1840s, overlooking a railed garden. The other side faces onto Commercial Road. The land was brought by the [[London County Council]] in 1899 to prevent development on the fourth side, and opened the land to the public in 1906. It was given its current name in 1937.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2009|p=5}}

Nos.&nbsp;440–450 are all Grade II listed. They were built in the early 19th century as a terrace, and all span four storeys with parapets roofs, round arched entrances and panelled doors.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2009|p=7}}

The [[Troxy]] Cinema at No.&nbsp;490 was opened by George Coles and Arthur Roberts in 1933 on a former brewery site. It cost £250,000 to develop and could house over 3,000 people. The main theatre housed a revolving stage [[Wurlitzer]] organ which could be raised from the orchestra pit to provide interval music; these have survived intact. It closed in 1960, reopening in 1963 as a training school for the [[Covent Garden Opera]]. It subsequently became a bingo hall. It was grade II listed in 1991.{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=203}}<ref>{{NHLE|num=1065742|desc=Troxy, Tower Hamlets|accessdate=25 October 2019}}</ref>

[[Limehouse Town Hall]] is at No.&nbsp;646, constructed in 1879 by A. and C. Harston. It was badly damaged in [[World War II]] and rebuilt as council offices. It has subsequently served as the [[National Museum of Labour History]], a homeless shelter, and an arts centre.{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=203}} The Passmore Edwards Sailors Palace at No.&nbsp;680 was built in 1901 in a Neo Tudor style. It has been Grade II listed since 1983.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1242221|desc=680, Commercial Road, E14, Tower Hamlets|accessdate=25 October 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Star of the East, Limehouse, E14 (3679925886).jpg|thumb|The Star of the East]]
The Grade II listed former premises of Caird and Rayner Ltd at No.&nbsp;777–783 was constructed in 1869. It contained a timber frame enclosed by a brick exterior. In 2010, it caught fire which destroyed most of the roof. Urgent repairs took place in 2010 in light of its listed status.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1385372|desc=Former Caird & Rayner Ltd Warehouse, 777–783, Commercial Road E14 - Tower Hamlets|accessdate=25 October 2019}}</ref>

The Star of the East, at No.&nbsp;805 was built in the early 19th century, and Grade II listed in 1973. It was constructed from red brick with a slate roof.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1240184|desc=Star of the East Public House - Tower Hamlets|accessdate=25 October 2019}}</ref>  In 2019, urgent repairs were made to the premises in order for it to retain its listed status.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/heritage/historic-england-heritage-at-risk-2019-1-6325842|title=Historic buildings saved in Tower Hamlets after repairs and renovation|newspaper=East London Advertiser|date=17 October 2019|accessdate=25 October 2019}}</ref>

[[Church of St Mary and St Michael, Stepney|The Church of St Mary and St Michael]] is at No.&nbsp;340.  It was designed by [[William Wardell]] and constructed between 1852 and 1856. A sloping roof was built over the entrance in the 1920s. It became Grade II listed in June 2001.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2007|p=7}}<ref>{{NHLE|num=1246141|desc=Church of St Mary and St Michael|accessdate=25 October 2019}}</ref> The Congregation of Jacob Synagogue is at Nos.&nbsp;351–353. It was founded in 1903 as Britain's first [[Mizrahi Jews|Mizrachi]] synagogues, and moved into the present building in 1920. The premises had been originally constructed by Lewis Solomon and Son.{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=203}} London's first mosque, the [[East London Mosque]], opened on Commercial Road in 1941 and remained there until it was relocated to Whitechapel in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/makingbritain/content/east-london-mosque-and-islamic-cultural-centre |title=East London Mosque and Islamic Cultural Centre |publisher=The Open University |accessdate=13 April 2014}}</ref>

A [[Red telephone box#K2|K2 phone box]] outside No.&nbsp;48 Commercial Road was Grade II listed in 1987. It was designed by [[Giles Gilbert Scott]] and installed in 1927.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1357550|desc=K2 Telephone Kiosk Outside Number 48, Commercial Road|accessdate=25 October 2019}}</ref>

==Traffic==
As the main route between the City and the traditional East End, Commercial Road is the busiest road in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. There is continuous heavy traffic along the road, with limited opportunities for pedestrians crossing.{{sfn|Tower Hamlets|2007|p=13}}

==Nearby roads==
* [[Alie Street]]
* [[Cable Street]]
* [[Narrow Street]]

==See also==
*[[Siege of Sidney Street]]
*[[Stepney Historical Trust]]

==References==
'''Citations'''
{{reflist|30em}}

'''Sources'''
{{refbegin}}
{{london encyclopedia}}
*  {{cite web |url=http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=bfc9d071-39a0-4140-87e9-499ec26ecaf4&version=-1 |title=Commercial Road – Conservation Area |publisher=London Borough of Tower Hamlets |date=October 2007 |accessdate=13 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413155247/http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=bfc9d071-39a0-4140-87e9-499ec26ecaf4&version=-1 |archivedate=13 April 2014  |ref={{harvid|Tower Hamlets|2007}}}}
* {{cite web|url=https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/Documents/Planning-and-building-control/Development-control/Conservation-areas/Albert-GardensV1.pdf|title=Albert Gardens - Conservation Area|publisher=London Borough of Tower Hamlets|date=4 November 2009|accessdate=25 October 2019|ref={{harvid|Tower Hamlets|2009}}}}
{{refend}}

{{commons category|Commercial Road, London}}

[[Category:Streets in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]
[[Category:Conservation areas in London]]
[[Category:A13 road (England)]]