Beckenham Place Mansion

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 12/06/2012

TQ 37 SE 1/7 28.5.54 4407

BECKENHAM PARK PLACE BECKENHAM Beckenham Place Mansion

(Formerly listed as Beckenham Place Park Golf Club House)

(Formerly listed as Beckenham Place, partly listed in Borough of Lewisham dated 30.8.54.)

II*

This mansion was built about 1773 for John Cator (1728-1806). It is rather similar to Damson Park, Welling, Bexley, designed by Sir Robert Taylor in 1765 and may be by him. It is built of ashlar and has 3 storeys. The main front faces south-east. 7 windows. The ground floor has long and short quoins and a stringcourse above it. Cornice above the second floor and blocking course. Hipped slate roof. In the centre is a curved bay of 3 windows on all floors. A modern balcony has been added to its 1st floor with an outside staircase leading up to it, as the principal rooms are on the 1st floor on this side of the house. The sides of the building have 4 windows each. On the north-west side is a central projection of which the sides are rusticated on the ground floor with, above, a large tripartite window. The centre light of this is round-headed and flanked by engaged Ionic columns with a pediment ever. The outer lights are flanked by Doric pilasters with a cornice over. 2 windows on the 2nd floor of each side. The north-west front of this projection forms a portico said to have been added in 1787 and brought from Wricklemarsh House, Blackheath. This gives entrance to the house at 1st floor level. 4 giant composite columns rising through 2 storeys support a pediment containing a cartouche of the arms of the Cator family set in foliage with the motto "Nihil sine labore". The portico contains a central doorway flanked by engaged Ionic columns with a projecting cornice over and rectangular fanlight. On each side of the doorway is a niche containing a statue. The principal feature of the interior is a central hall with a gallery and a small circular dome. The contemporary stables to the north-east of the house stand within the Borough of Lewisham in the County of London, NMR photograph.

Listing NGR: TQ3785970706