Tower 42

For thirty years the National Westminster Tower was the tallest building in the City of London. From Spitalfields it dominated the skyline of the City.

The Nat West Tower viewed from the Chicksand Estate, 1985

Opened by the Queen in 1981 it cost £72 million (approximately £230 million today). Although it dominated the skyline from the Chicksand Estate it might as well have been a million miles away as no one from the Estate actually worked in the Tower in the 1980’s. The people from the Estate who work in the City now are mostly those who have bought the flats of residents who have moved out or are renting from former tenants.

Despite the iconic shadow of the tower over Spitalfields it has never been a symbol of opportunity for young people living on the estates in its shadow.

Heneage Street with the City on the horizon viewed from the Chicksand Estate, 1985

The sparse horizon (above) is very different today following the expansion of the City and the consequent explosion in land and property prices in Spitalfelds.

The Chicksand Estate with the City in the distance, 1985

When Richard Seifert designed the Tower (now called Tower 42) he could not have imagined the rapid change to the City skyline that was to occur in a few decades.

The City viewed from Spitalfields, 1987

Over the years St Paul’s disappeared and surfaced again according to the status of surrounding developments. Currently it is hidden and unlikely to resurface for this view for decades.

The City with St Pauls viewed from Spitalfields, 1985

Taken from Spitalfields Market  this photograph shows the dereliction which surrounded the market up to the City itself. This space is now populated by banks, law firms and retailers.

A sweeper in the shadow of the 'Nat West' Tower, 1983

Tower 42 was the tallest building in the City for 30 years until it was surpassed by the Heron Tower in 2009.