26, Pancras Road

CAMDEN

TQ3083SW PANCRAS ROAD 798-1/85/1265 (East side) 30/01/76 No.26

GV II

Gymnasium and library, now offices & gymnasium. 1864-65. By Edward Gruning. For the German Gymnastic Society. Built by Piper and Wheeler. Multi-coloured stock brick. Rectangular plan with narrow, slightly projecting entrance frontage to Pancras Road. EXTERIOR: frontage 3 storeys 1 window. Stucco door surround of pilasters supporting a dentil entablature with segmental pediment. Round-arched doorway pilaster jambs supporting an architrave with keystone; fanlight and C20 panelled doors with small lights. 1st floor, recessed 4-pane sash with stuccoed lintel with mask; 2nd floor, round-arched 4-pane sash with stuccoed head. Moulded brick cornice and blocking course. North and south elevations with brick pilasters dividing bays (rectangular windows), 1st floor brick bands and deep Lombard frieze at eaves level; brick gables. Hipped roof with continuous lantern along the ridge. Gabled east elevation with gabled brick porch, 5 pointed arch windows above which an oculus, very deep Lombard frieze and enriched brick cornice. To the left, a staircase tower with narrow lights (those at base bricked up) and Lombard frieze. INTERIOR: narrow entrance hall with Imperial stair (2 flights then 1) the entire width of the hall. Gymnasium a single cell subdivided into nave and aisles by 2 storeys of cast-iron piers with lush early English foliage capitals. The piers support arched, laminated wood roof trusses some 20m wide, as experimented with but replaced at King's Cross Station, Euston Road (qv). A second floor has been inserted at gallery level providing office accommodation. An important early example of the use of laminated timber to give broad spans.

Listing NGR: TQ3011483152