I can tell you more, though I'm afraid I'm missing some crucial
details. It was the Pura Foods factory, and it was destroyed by a fire
in 2006 (IIRC)- however it was apparently out of use already by that
time. The site was occupied by Pura Foods since the early 90's [1],
who have now moved out to Purfleet in Essex - and apparently used to
be known as the Pure Lard Company! [2]
GLIAS has a bit more here:
http://www.glias.org.uk/news/227news.html#L
This thread on the urban exploration forum 28 Days Later has some more
information, including accounts from two people who worked there
(though one was working on it being decommissioned) who consider it a
"shithole":
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=14172
I cannot find any reference to the fire on the web though, which is
irritating as it could mean that I've gone mad. However I don't think
so, as I do remember very specifically being on a DLR train from the
west approaching Canning Town, in the daylight, and seeing the mangled
wreck of the factory, and then exchanging a few words with the PSA
lady who was nearby, who spoke briefly of the recent massive blaze
that had happened there. Indeed I then double backed to East India
station to take another look, before tripling back (?) to get to
Canning Town.
"It went on fire" is a Glaswegian phrase that the Private Eye's Nooks
and Corners column, which concerns buildings, occasionally cites - it
apparently describes a timely, convenient fire that does the
demolition work without the fuss. However that wouldn't really fit
here, as the factory was already seemingly out of use and plans to
demolish and redevelop it were live before the fire.
I did see the factory from the road a number of times, and it was
indeed particularly imposing at night, just as it was when from the
DLR's windows, or the DLR platforms at Canning Town. Somewhat stupidly
and absent mindedly, because of the Pura name that was emblazoned on
the large cyclinders at the factory, for a while I thought the factory
might have something to do with producing concentrated fruit juices
(perhaps held in that bug cylinder)! Though to be honest I hadn't
really ever given it any proper thought.
Regarding Trinity Buoy lighthouse, one website cited earlier [2]
claims that it is "the only lighthouse that has never been used" -
which tallies with the fact its name is the "Experimental Lighthouse".
Trinity Buoy Wharf was in fact the Thames side workshops of Trinity
House (the lighthouse people) from 1803 until 1988 [3].
Trinity Buoy Wharf today is an artistic centre, and is open during the
hours of daylight (though is available for corporate hire, or as a TV
and film location). There's much more information on their website...
<
http://www.trinitybuoywharf.com/>
One thing the Wharf hosts is an original American diner, Fat Boys
Diner (or alternatively Fat Buoys Diner). I'm pretty sure this is the
American diner that used to exist on Maiden Lane near Coven Garden.
-----
[1] GLA planning report (PDF):
http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/planning_decisions/strategic_dev/2005/20051018/pura_foods_site_report...
[2] towerbridge community website - page on Blackwall and Lower Lea
Valley - see under "The Environment" heading for references:
http://www.tower-bridge.org.uk/blackwal.htm
[3] Trinity Buoy Wharf history page:
http://trinitybuoywharf.com/history.html
