Marquis of Lansdowne saved as Geffrye Museum abandons demolition plans

Geffrye Almshouses in autumn. Photography: David Clarke and Marcus Leith

Campaigners have praised the Geffrye Museum for “listening and rethinking” plans which would have seen a disused former pub knocked down.

The Marquis of Lansdowne, in Cremer Street, Shoreditch, survived the blitz during the Second World War, but expansion plans from the museum would have seen the Victorian building demolished in a bid to attract more visitors.

However, in May this year, Hackney Council’s planning sub-committee rejected the plans, voting six to two against the proposal.

L-R: William Palin, a trustee of the Spitalfields Trust, celebrating with fellow campaigners Zena Sullivan, Peter Kelly and Nick Pope following Hackney Council’s decision to reject the plans earlier this year. Photograph: Josh Loeb

The museum has announced plans to re-start its £14million development project but will now “integrate the former pub within the overall design”, restoring it for use either as a café or a shop.

David Dewing, director of the Geffrye Museum, who had been “bitterly disappointed” at the council’s decision, said: “We are feeling confident and reinvigorated about taking the project forward for the benefit of our visitors in Hackney and beyond.”

A petition, which was launched to save the building from being knocked down, gathered 2,247 signatures.

The Geffrye Museum, which receives over 105,000 visitors a year, plans to submit a new application in 2014 with work projected to begin in 2018.

Related:

Geffrye Museum expansion plans thrown out by Hackney Council