Former London Orphan Asylum

TQ 19 NW 4/21 5259

ORPHANAGE ROAD Former London Orphan Asylum

(Formerly listed as "Government Offices" Reed School (Orphan Asylum))

15.9.82

II

1871 by Henry Dawson. Former London Orphan Asylum. Extensive Gothic group of institutional buildings built for 5-600 orphans and 100 servants for £63,000. No plaster was used to save on maintenance. Stock brick with red brick, terracotta, red sandstone and Bath stone decorative details. Slate roofs. Large central administration block. South facing, with Headmasters House to left and on each side a 3-sided quadrangle, open to the south, large boys' quadrangle to left, smaller girls' quadrangle to right. A further large boys' quadrangle to the rear of the front boys' quadrangle is not included in -the listing. Central range 3-storey and attic, 5 window with 125' tower over centre. Hipped roof with bargeboarded bulls-eye dormers. Gothic arched porch in centre with 1st and 2nd floor windows united in stone surround with Gothic head. Tower brick, square surround with corners chamfered and 2-light openings at bell-stage. Above heavily moulded eaves broken by a clock with bargeboarded gable. Octagonal slated spire with timber open lantern. Flanking centre are 2-storey stone projecting bays, outer windows paired with Gothic arched heads. 2nd floor windows triple. Heavy bracketed eaves cornice. The West (boys) quadrangle is larger and more elaborate than the girls' quadrangle. Basic unit 2-storey with steep roof, 7 windows. Centre emphasised with 2-sided stone oriels at 1st floor and hipped, canted-side gable above. Ground floor open arcade on stone columns with naturalistic capitals. Two units to west side, one to east. North range has single storey arcade flanking low 2 gabled 2-storey build- ing with open ground floor (the glazing, floor, and roof (including former lantern spirelet) destroyed by fire 1989). Girls' quadrangle (East) has paired windows with coloured brick relieving arches over ground floor windows and blocked 5 bay arcade on east range, brick piers and roundels in spandrels. Five window sides, 10 window centre. Builder 29.1871 591. Architect 18.2.1871.

Listing NGR: TQ1141997246