Category: Family

I passed the site of my grandfather’s building in Fenchurch Street last week. It was built in 1969, and it broke his heart when he learned that they were going to demolish it.

He passed away in July, and now all that remains of his beloved building, one of the first skyscrapers in the City of London, is a rather sad stump that will soon disappear.

My grandfather passed away this morning, aged 94. One of his proudest achievements was the construction of 20 Fenchurch Street in the City of London, of which he was the architect. The building was occupied by Kleinwort Benson from 1968 to 2006. It is somehow poignant that his life has come to an end at the same time as his building is in the final stages of being demolished.

I walked past the spot last week and stopped to gaze at the progress of demolition.  Because of the nature of its construction, they are having to dismantle the building floor by floor from the bottom up, with a gigantic steel structure in place to keep the whole thing supported.

20 Fenchurch Street is destined to become the site of the new landmark skyscraper known as the Walkie Talkie.