A trio of food companies have worked together to create a gingerbread vision of London’s lost and un-built architecture, which went on display in Selfridges’ main Christmas window yesterday (24 October).

Biscuiteers, Lyle’s Golden Syrup and Bompass & Parr, worked on the installation, which comes complete with a golden River Thames that flows with syrup. It features a number of now demolished London buildings, such as Euston Arch, and Old London Bridge, as well as never-built architecture, such as the Glass Tower Bridge.

The ‘Lost London’ creation took Biscuiteers 400 hours to design, bake and build - it spans a total surface area of 10 metres squared and is 2.8m tall.

It is made from 25 ingredients: 353kg of delicious Biscuiteers gingerbread, 245kg of Tate & Lyle Icing and Royal Icing Sugars, over 80 litres of Lyle’s Golden Syrup and 85kg of Tate & Lyle Caster Sugar. The exterior was held together using a litre of confectioner’s glue and decorated using 2kg of glitter.

Sam Bompas of Bompas and Parr, said: “The installation started in the London Library. We scoured their records to discover the wonders of London that have been lost through bombings, negligence, bad planning or natural disaster. We also looked at epic buildings that have been planned for London and never built. The best were then designed using the same programmes normally used for designing trainers before being realised gloriously in gingerbread.”

Elpida Gailani, senior brand manager of Lyle’s Golden Syrup, added: “Lyle’s Golden Syrup has been an iconic part of London’s history since its first refinery started out on the banks of The River Thames back in 1881. As a child I always thought there was something magical about going to see the Christmas windows at Selfridges, so we hope our edible cityscape will get families into the festive spirit and give them something to smile about.”

It will be on display until the New Year.