Still Standing! Poplar Depot, London

“Still Standing” continues today as we take a trip to East London to view the former London County Council tram depot in Poplar which remains in existence in 2021.

Poplar Depot in Leven Road was opened by the London County Council Tramways in December 1906 and remained in use for trams until 1940 when trolleybuses took over. By this time ownership had passed to the London Passenger Transport Board and its evolution continued in 1959 when the trolleybuses were replaced by motorbuses. And so it remained for just over 25 years until when, in 1985, it was closed for the last time with the buses moving out.

Now in 2021 and the building remains standing and is now used as a document storage warehouse. However, there have been several proposals over the years for a redevelopment of the site, the most recent of which was in 2020. This proposal – which can be viewed at https://democracy.towerhamlets.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=169898 – would see a mixed residential and commercial development but wouldn’t see the complete end of the historic tram depot as it is proposed to retain part of the structure, including the former tram shed depot arches.

The former tram depot is seen here with where trams would once have entered clearly seen.

Another view, this time looking at the side of the building.

The rear of the building with plenty of CCTV now in place.

A final wider view of the former tram depot. (All Photographs by Bob Hodges, 6th May 2021)

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