Those of you with a ‘sweet tooth’ may enjoy this particular London Shoes topic – a topic which is stirring and sometimes a bit lumpy.
This week’s London Shoes publication is about a particular factory that has been churning out its product for over 140 years, and is still very much doing so to this very day – and also has been, and still is, one of the biggest employers in the east London area.
The topic in question is the “Tate & Lyle” Sugar Refinery down by the River Thames in ‘Silvertown’–London E16 – and a fascinating little story it is too.
The story of how this global brand originated, starts way back in 1859 when a “Henry Tate” (b.1819) went into partnership with a sugar refiner who happened to have a refinery factory up in Liverpool.
Around the me time, a ship owner by the name of “Abram Lyle” (b.1820), who was making a living out of transporting raw sugar cane to the UK, bought his own sugar refinery up in Greenock-Scotland.
In 1878 Henry Tate expanded his sugar business by opening up a new refinery in East London-down by the River Thames in ‘Silvertown’-E16.
Meanwhile in 1883, Abram Lyle started a sugar smelting process at a new refinery he had opened down at Plaistow Wharf on the River Thames – just 1.5miles away from Tate’s factory.
Abram Lyle’s refinery process focussed on producing a treacle like syrup preserve called ‘Goldie’, that was sold in a distinctive green tin, with a lion on it – and was used for baking cakes or simply as a ‘spread’ on bread etc.
The businesses of both Henry Tate and Abram Lyle were extremely successful bringing both owners great wealth and more importantly providing much wanted employment to the Silvertown area of east London and beyond.
Even though their respective factories were almost next door to each other, Henry Tate and Abram Lyle actually despised each other and never met in person throughout their lifetimes.
In 1887 Henry Tate set up the ‘Tate Institute’ opposite the main entrance to the Silvertown factory. The ‘Institute’ was a sort of community type social club facility, for the recreational benefit of the Tate & Lyle workers. The Institute closed in 1933 and the building was used as a local library until 1961.
The ‘Institute’ building is still there today, but sadly is abandoned and all boarded up.
Abram Lyle died in 1891, leaving his successful refining business to his sons.
Henry Tate died in 1899 and also passed his business on to his sons.
Henry Tate bequeathed a large portion of his wealth to many good causes in the East London area – and he left his large and valuable collection of fine art and paintings, to the nation – and this became the ‘Tate Gallery’ down in Pimlico, which is now known as ‘Tate Modern’.
Fast forward 20 years to the early 1920’s – the 2 rival sugar refineries eventually merged, and ‘Henry Tate & Sons’ and ‘Abram Lyle & Sons’ became the now globally recognised “Tate & Lyle” brand.
The factories in Silvertown became one of London’s biggest employers who, at its peak, employed over 5,000 people.
During WW2 and in particular the ‘blitz’, when East London and the London dock areas took a heavy pounding from German bombing – the ‘Tate & Lyle’ factory never ever closed down, and continued its production whatever the circumstances taking place around it. While its male workforce were away fighting in Europe, the Tate & Lyle factory was operated by women, who were nicknamed ‘The Sugar Girls’, and there has been a best seller book published of the same title, written all about their exploits during those times.
In 1949 ‘Tate & Lyle’ launched its iconic ‘Mr. Cube’ brand – that introduced boxes of sugar cubes into everyday life.
‘Tate & Lyle’ have always been one of the biggest ‘users’ of the River Thames with anything up to 45,000 tonnes per year of raw sugar cane arriving at Silvertown by boats, from countries such as Belize, Mozambique, Guyana & Fiji.
In the early 1970’s the future of Tate & Lyle was very much put in doubt, and there was a threat of closure as a result of ‘quota-restrictions’ imposed by the EU (eg the Common Market as it was then).
In 1981 Tate & Lyle’s refinery factory in Liverpool had to close down. 1997 saw the closure of its factory in Greenock-Scotland.
These EU restrictions have continued to have an impact of Tate & Lyle’s production output and workforce numbers, and the business has had to diversify its range of products to be able to compete profitably – a challenge that it has successfully managed so far – and with UK now leaving the EU, and restrictions lifted, it could herald a really positive new phase for the future of Tate & Lyle.
London City Airport which opened in 1987 is situated close to the Tate & Lyle refinery.
Both these businesses are the biggest employers in the London Borough Newham, and both have the most visible presence of anything else in the area – where ever you are in Silvertown, you will always see the factory and have a plane will be flying above your nut.
In 2018 ‘Tate & Lyle’ celebrated 140 years of refining sugar at Silvertown – and hopefully, long may it continue.
So – having spent a few hours wandering around a grey, foggy wet & cold Silvertown, it was time to have a quick ‘cheeky’ snifter before heading back off home.
From what I could see whilst ambling through its streets, there appear to be only 2 pubs in the actual Silvertown area – the ‘Henley Arms’ and the strangely named ‘Fox@Connaught’.
The Henley Arms was built in the early 1960’s and is a typical post-war council estate pub. It was shut when I located it, so I didn’t have the chance to have a ‘cheeky’ one in there.
However, the ‘Fox@Connaught’ was open, and so I popped in there to take the weight off me plates and have a quick ‘cheeky’ one.
The ‘Fox@Connaught’ has obviously been designed to cater for the airport ‘traffic’ of travellers, passengers & staff alike.
The ‘Fox’ was built in 1881 – and has had various uses throughout the decades. It stood completely abandoned for 17 years and only re-opened again in 2003 – and is the ideal location to have a beer whilst watching the aircraft activity in the skies above or the activity taking place in the tranquil waters of the ‘Royal Dock’ – where (on a clear day) you can see Canary Wharf in the distance, and the cable cars running to and from the O2 and the ExCel arena.
So – that’s all about the history of ‘Tate & Lyle’ in Silvertown for you– hope you found it interesting – and I guess all that’s left to say is ‘one lump or two-madam’?
____________________________________________________
Published below are the full range of photographs from this ‘Tate & Lyle’ Sugar Refinery blog:-

The ‘Tate & Lyle’ Refinery and ‘London City Airport’ – close neighbours and the biggest employers within the London Borough of Newham

Wherever you are in Silvertown, the ‘Tate & Lyle’ refinery can be seen

A close-up of the ‘Tate & Lyle’ Sugar Refinery – Silvertown-London-E16 – which has been churning out its products from this site for over 140 years

In 2018 the “Tate & Lyle” sugar refinery at Silvertown, celebrated its 140th birthday

Me – outside the main entrance to the Tate & Lyle sugar refinery in Silvertown-E16

“Abram Lyle’s” refinery process at his Plaistow Wharf factory near Silvertown, focussed on producing a treacle like syrup preserve called ‘Goldie’, that was sold in a distinctive green tin, with a lion on it – and was used for baking cakes or simply as a ‘spread’ on bread etc.

In 2018 the Tate & Lyle sugar refinery in Silvertown celebrated its 140th birthday

The main entrance to the Tate & Lyle factory in Silvertown

The “Lyle’s” Golden Syrup factory within the Tate & Lyle refinery plant in Silvertown-London-E16

In 1949 ‘Tate & Lyle’ launched its iconic ‘Mr. Cube’ brand – that introduced boxes of sugar cubes into everyday life.

More views of the ‘Tate & Lyle’ sugar refinery – in Silvertown

More views of the ‘Tate & Lyle’ sugar refinery – in Silvertown – showing the close proximity of the local residential community that makes up 20% of its workforce today

In 1887 Henry Tate set up the ‘Tate Institute’ opposite the main entrance to the Silvertown factory. The ‘Institute’ was a sort of community type social club facility, for the recreational benefit of the Tate & Lyle workers. The Institute closed in 1933 and the building was used as a local library until 1961.

A view from the side of the old, and now abandoned ‘Tate Institute’ building – showing its close proximity to the Tate & Lyle factory site

Me – outside the old ‘Tate Institute’ building

Another view from a distance – of the Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinery site

“London City Airport” was opened in 1987 and is situated close to the Tate & Lyle refinery. They are the 2 biggest employers in the London Borough of Newham

‘London City Airport’ (to the right) which opened in 1987 – is situated close to the Tate & Lyle refinery.

A plane flies above the Royal Dock on its approach to London City Airport

Me – with a plane about to enter me old lug’ole

Me in Silvertown – with a big metal bird almost touching me ‘filbert’

A photo that ‘London Shoes’ took a few months ago when it published the ‘Woolwich Foot Tunnel’ blog (when the weather was decidedly more pleasant) – this photo shows the ‘Tate & Lyle’ factory, taken from the southern banks of the River Thames

A close-up photo that ‘Shoes’ took a few months ago when it published the ‘Woolwich Foot Tunnel’ blog (when the weather was decidedly more pleasant) – this photo shows the ‘Tate & Lyle’ factory, taken from the southern banks of the River Thames

A close-up of the Tate & Lyle factory from the northern banks of the Thames

Looking up the River Thames from its banks at Silvertown, towards the Pool of London – The Thames Barrier ‘lights’ are switched on because of the atrocious weather

A close-up of the Thames Barrier – taken from the northern banks of the Thames at Silvertown

The Silvertown district is well served by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) – handy for the workforces that are employed at London City Airport and Tate & Lyle

The Silvertown district is well served by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) – handy for the workforces that are employed at London City Airport and Tate & Lyle

Me – on the northern banks of the River Thames at Silvertown – with the Woolwich Ferry pier lurking in the misty background

The peace and tranquility of the ‘Royal Dock’ at Silvertown – with the Excel arena to the right and just the outline of my old work place stomping ground ‘Canary Wharf’ in the foggy distance

A close-up photo taken from the ‘Royal Dock’ in Silvertown – in which can be seen the cable cars that go back and forth from the 02 and the Excel – and further in the distance is Canary Wharf, where I worked for the last 16yrs of my time with Barclays Bank

Me – amongst the peace & tranquility (plus cold & wet) of the Royal Dock-Silvertown

Wherever you are in the Silvertown area, the Tate & Lyle sugar refinery is always watching you

No.1 Kingsway-London WC2 – Tate & Lyle’s London HQ

The Henley Arms pub-Silvertown, was built in the early 1960’s and is a typical post-war council estate pub. It was shut when I rocked-up at it, so I didn’t have the chance to have a ‘cheeky’ one in there

The ‘Fox@Connaught’ pub in Silvertown, was built in 1881 and has had various uses throughout the decades. It stood completely abandoned for 17 years but re-opened again in 2003 – and is the ideal location to have a beer whilst watching the aircraft activity in the skies above or the activity taking place in the tranquil waters of the ‘Royal Dock’ – where (on a clear day) you can see Canary Wharf in the distance, and the cable cars running to and from the O2 and the ExCell arena.

A cold & wet me -outside the ‘Fox @ Connaught’ pub-Silvertown-London-E16

Me – neckin’ down a mandatory ‘cheeky’ one inside the ‘Fox @ Connaught’ pub-Silvertown-London-E16

Having been ‘inspired’ by my trek out to the Tate & Lyle factory in Silvertown – I felt it only right to pop into the nearest Tesco’s to purchase a tin of the old Lyle’s Golden Syrup
Great article on “Tate and Lyle”.
My dad worked there, and even when he worked there they still referred to each building as either ‘Tate’ or ‘Lyle’s’.
The Tate Institute was still in operation up to the 90’s, I’ve been in there many times, but you went in the side entrance there, they had darts and snooker tables. They also had a sports ground just before the first of the bridges going over the docks. Also inside the building at Silvertown they had a boxing club. Great read as usual mate, keep up the good work.
Another interesting and well produced insight into a household name.
The Golden Syrup container depicting the lion with bees
pouring from its mouth bore the inscription:-
“From out of the strong came forth sweetness”.
Maybe alluding to the original founders and the merger of the two companies.
Thank you for your encouraging feedback Michael – really appreciate it.
In my ignorance, never really noticed the inscription emanating from the lion’s mouth – but I reckon you are right about what it means!!
This is definitely a sweet ‘Shoes’ 😀👠
It’s a really good article on Tate& Lyles. Is there any books out about it. I really enjoyed it very much.
Hello Barabara – thank you for taking the time & trouble to contact me regarding my Tate & Lyle article – really appreciate it, and I’m glad that you enjoyed it.
With regard to whether there are any books about the factory – I do know from my research on the topic, that there is a book entitled “The Sugar Girls” that was published in 2012, by Duncan Barrett & Nuala Calvi – which is all about the real life experiences and stories of the women that worked at the factory. I haven’t read it myself, but from its reviews it looks like it’s an interesting and entertaining read.
Kind regards……Geoff (London Shoes)
Tate and Lyle was the ultimate family firm so many people of the same family worked there plus manny marriages were formed. A truly wonderful company to work for.
Thank you for this article.
Yes – I was an employee for 40 years
Hello Peter – just wanted to thank you for taking the time & trouble to contact me with your kind words and feedback – I’m really pleased that you enjoyed the article – I certainly enjoyed researching the topic and publishing it.
Geoff (London Shoes)
Hi Geoff, Good article,I worked at Silvertown for 34 years, tate institute was my second home.
Only thing you didn’t mention that in recent years its been run by american sugars under
franchise,as Tate&Lyle don’t refine sugar any more,they are into sweetener’s abroad.
American sugars, carrying on using Tate&Lyle’s in name only,not totally sure how the deal works,
but its rarely mentioned in the press,and few know the new arrangement,seems strange.
I know Peter Lemon who worked in the offices and i worked in the refinery.
Hope this is helpful,perhaps you can find out more details.
regards George Monk
Hello George,
I’m glad you enjoyed my Tate & Lyle blog, and I just wanted to thank you for taking the time & trouble to contact me – it is very much appreciated.
Also – thank you for sharing your personal connections with the factory, and for clarifying the issue around its current ownership – very helpful.
I hope that you will continue to follow my London Shoes website, as there are many blogs published which you may well find interesting, particularly those that are on east-end topics.
Kind regards……GEOFF (London Shoes)
Hi. I worked for Sugar Line, the shipping branch of Tate & Lyles, from 1964 until 1970. I was an apprentice and was on the helm of on the first ship which came alongside the new wharf and grabs (12.5 tons if I remember correctly) when it opened in 1967(?) 24 hours turn round, which for me, living in Plaistow, was a pain in the bum!
Hello David,
I just wanted to personally thank you for taking the time & trouble to contact my London Shoes website, regarding my ‘Tate & Lyle’ article – I really appreciate it, and Immpleased that you enjoyed the piece.
Also – thank you for sharing your personal experiences concerning your Tate & Lyle connections – really interesting, and I’m sure that there will be others reading this article who will be interested in your comments.
I very much hope you’ll continue to follow & enjoy the blogs I publish on my London Shoes website.
Cheers……GEOFF (London Shoes)
Thanks for your insightful piece and great photos covering all aspects of the Tate & Lyle factory.
I cycled to Woolwich on Sunday from my home town of Guildford the purpose was to use the foot tunnel from Woolwich then head back through Canary Wharf & The City. One building I was somewhat curious about was opposite thé foot tunnel South side in Woolwich, it was derelict possibly a factory in it’s day. The style of architecture was early 1930’s in my opinion. It’s nothing special but to me had a certain charm and no glamour. Could you shed any light please?
Hello Simon,
Thank you so much for taking the time & trouble to contact my London Shoes website with your kind comments – and I’m glad that you enjoyed my ‘Tate & Lyle’ blog.
I’m afraid I’m not too sure about the building you mention that’s located near the Woolwich Foot Tunnel, but hopefully, someone reading this may be able to clarify.
I did in fact publish a few months back, a detailed blog specifically on the Woolwich Foot Tunnel and its nearby Woolwich Arsenal – which I think you would enjoy reading – just call it up from the Archives page of my London Shoes main menu (eg http://www.londonshoesblog.com).
Kind regards……GEOFF (London Shoes)
Interesting article i worked at the Thames refinery for 35 years, and even met my wife in the Tate institute in 1967 and we have been married 51 years.
I would also like to say hello to George Monks I new him at Tate and Lyle, I hope he remembers me, lot of memories of my time there and some great characters there.
Hi Mick – Im glad you enjoyed this blog post, and thank you for sharing your own personal connection to the Tate & Lyle factory – very much appreciated.
Cheers….Geoff (London Shoes)
Fantastic work, writing, photography, content, length. So glad I found this blog. Stayed with my son in Poplar 2018, love the east end.
NZ reader.
Thank you for your kind words – very encouraging & very much appreciated. I hope you’ll continue to follow my weekly blogs on my London Shoes website – Cheers……Geoff
Great blog. I wonder if you have any information on the directors of Tate and Lyle in 1938/9. I live in Sawbridgeworth and my house was once owned by a Mr Bressey who was a director I believe. The house was rented out to a Mr Laurie who I am told was a chief engineer. Any information would be helpful to my research on our house.
Hello Diane,
Just wanted to thank you for taking the time & trouble to contact my London Shoes website – really appreciate it and I’m so glad that you enjoyed my little Tate & Lyle blog.
Also – thank you for sharing your story regarding your tenuous connection to one of the early directors of the Company – I am sure there will be readers of this blog who may be interested and may have further info.
You may find it useful tonight further investigations into the specific info that you are interested in, to the Tate & Lyle website (www.tateandlyle.com) – where,within its menu, there is a specific ‘Contact Us’ tab, which contains various methods to get in touch with the organisation. I’m sure that someone within Tate & Lyles ‘Archives’ dept would be able to enlighten you further.
Good luck!!
Kind regards…..GEOFF (LONDON SHOES)
I worked at the Plaistow Wharf refinery as an engineering apprentice from 1947 until 1952 when I left to join the Merchant Navy as an alternative to doing national service, which proved to be much more fun. I have spoken to Oliver Lyle on quite a few occasions when he did a tour to see what we were up to. He was a very pleasant man. I remember that he used to drive to work every day in a little Standard 8 car.
I could go on for hours about life there in those days, but will now stop.
I now live in South West France.
Hello John,
Firstly – thank you for taking the time and trouble to contact my London Shoes – really appreciate it,band I’m so glad that you enjoyed my Tate & Lyle blog.
Also – thank you for sharing your own personal connections and memories of your time and experiences of the Tate & Lyle company – you will probably have seen from the comments at the end of my blog, there have been a lot of readers who either worked at,or had connections and memories of the factory – so you sharing your memories will be enjoyed by many, I’m sure.
Once again – thank you
Kind regards……….GEOFF (LONDON SHOES)
Fascinating Geoff, thanks. I had never made the Tate gallery connection before
Interesting Geoff. I love industrial buildings and history. Where we are is very much sugar beet country with one of the local refineries being at Bury St.Edmunds. When the refinery was open at Peterborough on certain days you could get the smell.
I worked at the Silvertown refinery in 1969 and know that their sugar cubes were in existence long before then. There were made at the Woolwich factory down the road.
The Mr. Cube character was a part response to the governments proposal to nationalise the sugar industry, as was the phrase “Tate not Taste”
Hello John,
I just wanted to thank you for taking the time and trouble to contact my London Shoes website – and I’m glad you enjoyed my Tate & Lyle blog.
Also – thank you for sharing your personal connection and experiences of the factory – I am sure that there will future readers of this piece that will take great interest in your comments and recollections.
Kind regards……GEOFF (LONDON SHOES)
I had the pleasure to work at Thames refinery for 19 years from 1997 onwards until we emigrated to Tenerife in 2016.
I started as a tanker driver but ended up loading the road tanker fleet as well as export containers and rail freight as well.
We would do 12 hour shifts in all weathers but the pay and benefits were good.
Thoroughly enjoyed my time here and made some life long freinds.
Hi Kev,
Thank you for sharing your personal experiences of working at the iconic “Tate & Lyle-Refinery” – really good of you, and I know that there will be people reading this article from here on in, who will be really interested in your comments – as there have been a few ex-T&L workers who have provided their experiences and memories.
Once again – many thanks Kev – very much appreciated👍
Cheers…..GEOFF (LONDON SHOES)
My fathers family over 50 people worked for tates in liverpool covering a century and is mentioned in the book written on the love lane refinery. The name is Bramwell
Thanks for contacting my London Shoes website Notman, and for sharing your personal connections to Tate & Lyle – I’m sure there will be many future readers of this specific blog, who will be interested in your comments👍
Regards…..GEOFF (LONDON SHOES)
Possibly out of your remit.
Do you happen to know if Tate & Lyle (T&L) retain a list of former employee’s.
I am tracing my family history and understand that my grand father worked for T&L and possibly met my grandmother there.
Im afraid that I cant personally help you – but I can provide a suggestion for you. Tate & Lyle’s head office is in central London – “Tate & Lyle PLC, 1 Kingsway, London WC2B 6AT” – and I’m guessing that they must have some kind of archive department – who may be able to help.