Malt Street, Southwark (SE1) — History & Name Origin

Known For

Southwark’s Brewing Heritage Made Physical

Malt Street today is a quiet lane lined with converted Victorian warehouses and industrial buildings that once formed the backbone of London’s ale trade. The street runs steeply downhill towards the Thames, and its narrow width and granite setts still reflect its 18th-century character as a working wharf. Most of the buildings date from the 1850s–1900s, when the malting trade reached its peak. The street is part of Southwark’s Conservation Area, which preserves these industrial structures as a record of the borough’s economic identity.

The name itself has never changed, and for good reason—it tells you exactly what happened here. Malt Street was malt. The grain, the business, the labour all centre on a single word.

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Name Origin

From Barley Grain to Street Name

Malt is barley (or other grain) that has been soaked, allowed to germinate, and then dried in a kiln. The process creates enzymes that convert the grain’s starches into sugars—essential fuel for fermentation. Brewers needed malt in enormous quantities, and in medieval and early modern London, Southwark became the place where it was made. The street took its name directly from the malting houses that operated there from the 17th century onward. The earliest documentary evidence of Malt Street itself dates to the 1600s, when the malt trade was already well established in the area. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the street had become one of several malting centres in Southwark, competing with Bermondsey Street and other nearby lanes. The industry survived until the early 20th century, though by then most brewing had consolidated into larger, more mechanised operations outside central London.

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The Street Today

Warehouses Repurposed, History Preserved

Walk down Malt Street now and you see brick and iron. The buildings are solid Victorian and Edwardian warehouses, most three to five storeys, with the thick walls and modest windows typical of 19th-century industrial London. Many have been converted into apartments, offices, and studios; some retain their original loading doors and hoists. The slope of the street is dramatic, dropping about 40 metres from north to south towards the riverside. At street level, you pass beneath brick arches and past stone quays. There is no grand architecture here—it is functional, honest, and strong.

The nearest green space is Guy’s Hospital Garden, a five-minute walk north, which offers a calm courtyard planted with trees. Shad Thames, to the south, borders the river and connects to Tower Bridge Approach, allowing riverside walks. The area has been gentrified over the past two decades, but the street itself retains its warehouse character and remains largely quieter than the busier thoroughfares nearby.

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On the Map

Malt Street Then & Now

National Library of Scotland — Ordnance Survey 6-inch, c. 1888. Hosted by MapTiler. Modern: © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called Malt Street?

Malt Street takes its name from the malt production and malting houses that operated along the street from at least the 17th century. Malt—grain that has been steeped, germinated, and dried—was the essential ingredient for brewing beer. Southwark was London’s brewing heartland, and Malt Street lay at the centre of this industry, where malt was processed, stored, and sold to breweries throughout the capital.

When did Malt Street’s brewing trade begin?

Brewing evidence in Southwark dates back to at least the 14th century, though Malt Street itself is not documented until the 17th century. By the 1600s, malting houses were established along the street, taking advantage of Southwark’s position south of the Thames and outside the City of London’s strict guild controls. The street’s malting industry peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries, when Southwark’s breweries supplied ale and beer to the whole of London.

What is Malt Street known for?

Today, Malt Street is known as a link to Southwark’s industrial brewing heritage. The street is home to converted Victorian and Georgian warehouses, many now residential or office space, that once stored malt and other brewing supplies. Its narrow Victorian character and proximity to the Thames reflect its origins as a working wharf street. The street remains part of Southwark’s Conservation Area, which preserves its historic industrial architecture and layout.