The Thames Refinery has defined the skyline of the neighbourhood since it was built in 1878 by Henry Tate & Sons.

In 1921 Tate’s grandchildren joined forces with the grandchildren of rival sugar maker Abram Lyle. The resultant Tate & Lyle Thames Refinery became the largest sugar refinery in the world, processing around 50% of the world’s sugar.

By the 1950s and 1960s the Thames Refinery employed up to 6,000 people, and although this number has now decreased with automation, they still process 25% of the UK’s sugar supply today.