North London Food & Culture

Illegal demolition continues at the historic Castle pub?

Readers continue to flood us with updates on the fate of Kentish Town Road’s Castle pub, the grand 1849 boozer built on the site of an inn dating as far back as the 16th century

Readers continue to flood us with updates on the fate of Kentish Town Road’s Castle pub, the grand 1849 boozer built on the site of an inn dating as far back as the 16th century. So with a combination of your sleuthing and a spot of our own doorstepping, here’s the latest on this evolving local story.

[hr]23/05: Following our initial report, word is that the application for demolition has been rejected, but the developers look set to appeal.[hr]25/05: An anonymous reader urges all Kentishtowners to get behind his call for an emergency Building Preservation Notice. [hr]29/05: Reader David Wenk confirms a new demolition application has been lodged and there is some ambiguity over work actually starting before the close of the application.[hr]30/05: Men from R J Demolition Ltd spotted at work on the site, removing roof and claiming it was suffering from ‘dry rot’. Camden enforcement officer attends the site.[hr]31/05: Windowsills broken off the façade. Readers report large chunks of rubble around the site.[hr]03/06: Camden Council remove development rights for demolition and force owners to sign a legal doc requiring roof is made waterproof and façade details are replaced. Notices displayed around the site, however when we ask a workman what is happening to the building, he makes a throat slitting gesture and continues sawing up some wooden beams.[hr]04/06: Word reaches us that demolition has stopped, but original interior features may have been ripped out.[hr]06/06: Camden New Journal article includes comments from estate agents Ringley, who have purchased the property for their expansion from offices across the road. Being ominously cryptic, they state “For the development to be viable, full use of the lower ground floor is essential and the existing load bearing structures and arrangement prevent this.”[hr]

Keep your updates coming, we fear the battle for this particular corner of K-Town is far from over.


Words: Tom Kihl
Pics: Stephen Emms


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4 thoughts on “Illegal demolition continues at the historic Castle pub?”

  1. The ‘don’t care cowboy’ owners need to hear and note all of your comments; you might like to contact them – they occupy the building right opposite. Ringley 349 Royal College St, London NW1 9QS. Ms Mary-Anne Bowring, Managing Director is dealing with the property
    @ringley.co.uk

  2. Whilst I am right behind preserving worthwhile historic buildings, lets be fair here! The place is an eyesoar and has been for several years, surely we want a high street that moves with the times and brings more jobs into the area rather than a boarded up crumbling building that has passed its prime, at present it brings the area down!!

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4 thoughts on “Illegal demolition continues at the historic Castle pub?”

  1. The ‘don’t care cowboy’ owners need to hear and note all of your comments; you might like to contact them – they occupy the building right opposite. Ringley 349 Royal College St, London NW1 9QS. Ms Mary-Anne Bowring, Managing Director is dealing with the property
    @ringley.co.uk

  2. Whilst I am right behind preserving worthwhile historic buildings, lets be fair here! The place is an eyesoar and has been for several years, surely we want a high street that moves with the times and brings more jobs into the area rather than a boarded up crumbling building that has passed its prime, at present it brings the area down!!

Leave a Comment

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The award-winning print and online title Kentishtowner was founded in 2010 and is part of London Belongs To Me, a citywide network of travel guides for locals. For more info on what we write about and why, see our About section.