We were very pleased to host the London Appreciation Society last week on a personal tour of the Granary and Malthouse buildings, part of Rooff’s historic building complex on the Roding Riverside in Barking. Director Steve Drury led the tour and provided a potted history of the origins of the Malting complex developed by Randalls & Co, Malt Roasters circa 1860. Steve also described the fascinating general history of the local area featuring the Barking Abbey ruins site, just along the road, the origins of the Short Blue fishing fleet, linked to the development of local ice houses and the boat building heritage along this part of the River Roding. The tour finished on the riverside terrace where the new cafe and bar operators of the Ice House Cafe treated everyone to tea and coffee.
We met some of the LAS team at the Historic Buildings Parks & Gardens event last Autumn where Rooff exhibited, presenting their expertise and services in the heritage sector.
