This is a replica of the door which served the Old Limehouse, built around 1705 and demolished in 1935. The original door was donated to the Ragged School Museum, Bow, E3.
Site: Old Limehouse (1 memorial)
E14, Three Colt Street, Lime Kiln Wharf
The lettering in the frieze at the top of the metal gates read "Lime Kiln Wharf". The building to the right of our photo has an entrance door just around the corner to the right, and above that door: "Limekiln Wharf 1935", which ties in nicely with the date on the plaque.
The name comes from a lime kiln which was on the site. Limestone was heated in what were known as 'lime oasts', like the oast houses used for drying hops in Kent. So we guess 'Old Limehouse' refers to an early lime-oast building. We were surprised not to find a photo of the old structure. In our experience significant buildings were often photographed when their demolition was imminent. A London Inheritance did not find the image either so we don't feel too bad.
