Elms Lester Painting Rooms

CAMDEN

TQ2981SE FLITCROFT STREET 798-1/104/481 (East side) 10/06/88 Nos.1-5 (Consecutive) Elms Lester Painting Rooms

GV II

Painting rooms for theatrical scenery. 1903-4. For Messrs W & J Elms Lester. English bond yellow brick, with facade of red brick; top-lit lantern, projecting above 1st floor level and lighting painting rooms, has facing of glazed white brick. Gabled, brick-coped Welsh slate roof; brick stacks. EXTERIOR: 2-storey pedimented facade, with legend ELMS LESTERS PAINTING ROOMS & STORES inscribed on tympanum of inner pediment, which is set above row of colonnettes which rest on cornice of main pediment. This cornice is broken by panelled full-height loading doors to right and tall window with glazing bars to left, the latter above a segmental-arched 2-light window with glazing bars. Pedimented facade to lantern storey has moulded stone lintel above 2-light transomed window. Right-side wall, of 2-storey, 3-window range has concrete lintels over 2-light transomed windows, and loft door above double doors to front: to rear of this range is lean-to porch with 8-panelled double doors attached to large 3-storey canted bay with plate-glass sashes. INTERIOR: the centre of the building is occupied by the painting frames, lit by the projecting lantern which has cast-iron framework to glazing. The 1st floor painting area, supported on a steel frame, gives access to four 50'x 30' painting frames which run along the outer side walls and both sides of the inner dividing screen wall. Each cast-iron frame can be raised or lowered by electric winches. Each painting room has a sink and studio stove and they are surrounded by studios and artists' accommodation. The large entrance lobby to the front has a hoist and trap doors, which facilitated the exit of completed backcloths from the painting rooms, via the full-height doors in the facade. HISTORICAL NOTE: an important and complete survival of a theatrical scene-painting workshop.

Listing NGR: TQ2994281229