Oxo Tower, River Thames 1977

The OXO Tower, an iconic part of London’s South Bank skyline, has a fascinating and varied history. Originally built around 1900 as a power station supplying electricity to the Royal Mail, the building was acquired in the late 1920s by the Liebig Extract of Meat Company, makers of the famous OXO beef stock cubes. Liebig transformed the structure into a cold storage facility and commissioned architect Albert Moore to redesign it in 1928–29. Moore gave the building its distinctive Art Deco appearance, including the ingenious OXO windows in the tower. These windows cleverly bypassed regulations that prohibited illuminated advertising on the Thames, allowing the OXO name to remain visible without overt signage.

In the years that followed, ownership of the building passed to the Vestey Group, the parent company of Dewhurst the Butchers, a well-known high street chain.The helicopter seen here belonged to Somerton Rayner Helicopters, a company that Vestey had an interest in, It is landing on the Barge William Heliport operated by Star Aviation (another Vestey company)
In the early 1980s one of their helicopters ditched in the Thames shortly after taking off from Barge William with three executives on board. All four including the pilot were recovered safely,

Under Vestey, the building saw little investment and gradually fell into disrepair. By the 1970s, it was derelict and faced demolition. In 1984, the Greater London Council stepped in and acquired the site. It was later sold to Coin Street Community Builders, a local not-for-profit organisation committed to regenerating the area for community benefit.

The new owners launched a major restoration project in the 1990s, transforming the crumbling structure into a vibrant hub of activity. The redevelopment introduced cooperative housing on the upper floors, while the lower levels were converted into galleries, shops, and creative studios. The top of the tower was opened to the public with a restaurant, bar and viewing terrace operated by Harvey Nichols, offering panoramic views over the river and the London skyline.