SITE DETAILS

Fuller information:

Tower Place was laid out to the west and south of All Hallows by the Tower (q.v.) in 1962-66 to provide public open space when office buildings were erected here, a joint scheme of London County Council, Corporation of London and the then Borough of Stepney, now London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Sir Basil Spence was the consultant architect. The site was a large open space with two courtyards; to the north granite setts demarcated land that had been formerly part of the churchyard, the rest paved. The Bowring Building had a courtyard with planters and a sculpture by John Robinson 'The Hammer Thrower' (1973) and a number of mature trees including plane, cherry, beech. The southern courtyard provided views of the river.

The area was redeveloped between 1992-2002 with a new low-rise office development of two buildings joined by an immense glazed atrium by Foster + Partners replacing the 16-storey high buildings of the 1960s. The development sought to restore the site's traditional urban grain, reinstating historical views and creating a new public plaza with trees and water in front of All Hallows Church. Designed by Townshend Landscape Architects, the new space is partly sheltered by Tower Place Atrium and incorporates two designated City Walkways, inviting people to use it as a thoroughfare or as a sheltered place to meet friends and colleagues throughout the day.

Sources consulted:

Simon Bradley & Nikolaus Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England, London 1: The City of London', 1997 (1999 ed.): Foster+Partner website

Grid ref:	TQ333806
Size in hectares:
On EH National Register :	No
EH grade:
Site on EH Heritage at Risk list:
Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:	No
Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:	No
The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.
On Local List:
In Conservation Area:	Yes
Conservation Area name:	Tower
Tree Preservation Order:	No
Nature Conservation Area:	No
Green Belt:	No
Metropolitan Open Land:	No
Special Policy Area:	Yes - Thames Policy Area
Other LA designation:	Strategic View - Consultation Area; Monument Views and Setting. City Walkway Network