Smeed Road, Hackney Wick, E3
Algha Works is a heritage site that stands in the heart of Hackney Wick, a vibrant area home to many creatives.
The warehouse is arranged over four floors, allowing different hiring options, including a breath-taking communal rooftop.
With huge windows providing a lot of natural light and the ceiling at 11.5 ft of height, its architecture makes it sought after for many creative projects.
Exposed bricks, concrete floors, ornate tiles, incredible well-preserved memorable and its rich history, gift this building with a unique character that makes it an enchanting location for creative workspace.
The building is next to The Peanut Factory formerly known as Percy Daltons Famous Peanut factory.
History of Algha Works:
The English Algha company was established by Max Wiseman & Co. in 1932. Due to post-war inflation in Germany in 1932, Max Wiseman asked his sons to move manufacturing to East London thereby establishing the Algha Works factory. The equipment and workers were moved to London from a factory in Rathenow, Havelland in Brandenburg, Germany. The Algha factory manufactured rolled-gold metal eye wear frames.
The name ‘Algha’ represents the merging of two Greek letters, alpha and omega, literally meaning the beginning and the end.
During the Second World War Algha manufactured Aviator spectacles for pilots along with eye wear for gas masks, both of which were used by the British Armed Forces throughout the war.
In the 1950s Algha was transformed into a household name when it was tendered to produce glasses for the NHS, which it did for more than 40 years. During its heyday, up to half a million frames annually were produced in the three-story building by its 200-plus staff.