Hovis Wharf SW1

11 December 1940

By Joseph Torregrossa

At 10.40pm on 11 December 1940, three heavy calibre high explosive bombs were dropped on Westminster, one of them landing on the Hovis Flour Mill at 147-149 Grosvenor Road SW1, on the north bankside wharves south of Vauxhall Bridge. This bomb completely destroyed the Mill (built in 1912), spilling debris and equipment into the River Thames and onto an adjacent barge.

The building's entire foundations were shifted and the majority of its facilities, including the laboratory, joiners shop, mills stores, electric stores, small offices, part of the gantry and saw bridge were completely demolished.

In addition, about 70 feet of the embankment wall was destroyed, which was of some concern to river authorities. No one was working in the Mill at the time and no casualties were reported.

Today the site is occupied by the Rivermill and Crown Reach bankside housing developments.