Former Woolwich Wilko coming down quickly for new leisure centre
Work to demolish Viscount House in Woolwich is gathering steam with much now demolished.
The building formerly housed Wilko, Ladbrokes, a pound shop and Barclays Bank.
The building is only around 35 years old. It was formerly due to be part of a vast civic and shopping centre in the 1970s that never came to fruition.
During its life the building also housed Gateway, Somerfield and a Blockbuster. I’ve probably missed a fair few more. A Co-op too?
Those 60 year old plans for a civic building are now set to happen as a council leisure centre is built on site to replace the Waterfront.
The development will also include 482 homes.
The Tramshed next door has recently been renovated.
Here’s Viscount house when work was underway beside.
In previous years structure to the rear were brought down, though work on the overall project has been dogged by delays for years.
Back in 2021 I took quite a few pictures of the area.
The centre has a target opening date of 2025.
I don’t remember there ever being a Co-op there. The only Co-ops I can recall was the Co-op bank on Wellington Street and the Co-op home store at the end of Powis St.
Something made me think when they took over Somerfield it may have changed but can’t clearly remember