The Hop Exchange

General

Bankside was the centre of London’s brewing industry from the 17th century onwards. The Hop Exchange, opened in 1867 and designed by R.H Moore, stands on Southwark Street with carvings above the main entrance showing hop gatherers at work.

Dried hops, harvested in the fields of Kent by hundreds of Southwark families, were brought to either London Bridge Station or by river. The Exchange provided hop growers, merchants and dealers with a single market centre, and it had a glass roof to allow potential buyers to view the hops by natural light.

Extensive damage to the Hop Exchange was caused by fire in 1920 leading to the two upper floors being removed and the rest restored as offices.

Community

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