At 777 Commercial Road, opposite Limehouse Church, and backing onto the Limehouse Cut, stands a derelict building bearing the faded sign V.I.P. Garage.
 Originally (1869) a ships chandler's, with the best surviving example of a sail loft in Docklands, it was then extended to the east and formed the workshop and offices of Caird & Rayner.
 This firm specialised in desalination apparatus, crucial for maintaining ship's boilers — and drinking water — on long sea voyages.
 Patented in 1888, their apparatus was fitted on dreadnoughts, British and Japanese battleships, Cunard liners, and "the Czar's new yacht".
 A specimen is in the Science Museum.
 Water from the Cut was used for testing the equipment.
 The firm moved in 1972.

In 2000 the building was listed, both for its historical and architectural interest.
 The engineering workshop is a very early example of fully steel structural framework, probably the only surviving one in London.
At 777 Commercial Road, opposite Limehouse Church, and backing onto the Limehouse Cut, stands a derelict building bearing the faded sign V.I.P. Garage.  Originally (1869) a ships chandler's, with the best surviving example of a sail loft in Docklands, it was then extended to the east and formed the workshop and offices of Caird & Rayner.  This firm specialised in desalination apparatus, crucial for maintaining ship's boilers — and drinking water — on long sea voyages.  Patented in 1888, their apparatus was fitted on dreadnoughts, British and Japanese battleships, Cunard liners, and "the Czar's new yacht".  A specimen is in the Science Museum.  Water from the Cut was used for testing the equipment.  The firm moved in 1972.
In 2000 the building was listed, both for its historical and architectural interest.  The engineering workshop is a very early example of fully steel structural framework, probably the only surviving one in London.
Limehouse Cut