Once a bustling hub of activity, the former Peek Freans Biscuit Factory is an iconic site at the heart of Southwark. In recent years there has been a big focus on the future of this site, but today we thought we’d take a look back to remember its history which holds an important place in thousands of people’s memories.

The Biscuit Factory is a symbol of Bermondsey’s industrial past, creating some of the UK’s best-loved treats including staples such as Twiglets, Chocolate Digestives, the Garibaldi, and the Bourbon Biscuit.

Built in 1866, the Factory gave Bermondsey the nickname ‘Biscuit Town’, employing generations of local residents, and distributing millions of popular biscuits around the world. Peek Frean produced nearly 100 million biscuits in just three months in 1912, which constituted a record for the sale of biscuits.

It quickly become an internationally renowned busy hive of activity, producing over two billion biscuits every year, and even supplying biscuits to British royalty. At its peak, in the 1930s, the factory employed over 4,000 people, and produced more than 300 different varieties of biscuits, in some three million biscuit tins a year.

Since closing its doors in 1989, much of the factory site has sat vacant, waiting for its future to be decided. Greystar is now looking forward to delivering a scheme that recognises the historic significance of the Peek Freans Biscuit Factory. We plan on refurbishing and opening up the former Machine Hall, with retail and entertainment opportunities introduced on the ground floors. We are also looking at how else we can celebrate the site’s unique history, so if you have any ideas, we would love to hear them!

Greystar is committed to creating a new, vibrant urban centre for Bermondsey, attracting people from all walks of life and bringing the buzz back to such an iconic site. We want to create a long-lasting neighbourhood for everyone to enjoy that is designed to foster friendships, as well as build connections with the wider Bermondsey community.

If you or your family members have any special memories from the Biscuit Factory that you would like to share, or if you have any ideas for how you think the Biscuit Factory’s history could be incorporated into the future development of the site, let us know here.

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