Sumner Street

Sumner Street was once the centre of a thriving community. The picture shows the street in about 1890 with the chimney of the first Bankside power station showing top left. This street and many others around it were later demolished as the station expanded.

The local community identified the vacant spaces and buildings on and near Bankside as an opportunity to improve social conditions. They were determined that their views should be heard. The whole length of the North Southwark waterfront was historically of economic importance.

The original power station, built in the 1890s was replaced after WW2. At the end of the 70s it too closed, leading to another series of fundamental changes in the area. Tate Modern art gallery opened in the defunct power station in 2000. Since then the area has witnessed a huge demand for luxury housing developments.