Bridge House

SOUTHWARK

TQ3280SE BOROUGH HIGH STREET 636-1/17/73 (West side) 13/05/71 No.4 Bridge House (Formerly Listed as: BOROUGH HIGH STREET (West side) No.4 (Bridge House. Balls Brothers Ltd))

GV II

Hotel, with C20 remodelling as offices. 1834. George Allen, based on designs by Smirke. Portland stone with altered roofline, partly lead. Built on 2 levels with brick lower level to north elevation, recently remodelled as offices. EXTERIOR: main Borough High Street elevation: 3 storeys with (later) full attic storey, 3 bays. Banded rustication to altered ground-floor with cornice supporting grand Ionic order rising through 1st and 2nd floors. Centre window flanked by applied columns with Ionic capitals, pilasters on 2 planes to either end with paterae in necking. Entablature with frieze and modillion cornice above. Full attic storey in parapet with curved lead roof and further roof extension above. Sash windows with glazing bars in moulded architraves to 1st and 2nd floors, with cornices to 1st floor. Return (northern) elevation to lower street: 4 storeys and full attic storey, 7 bays. Lower level in brick with ashlar plinth has tall round-headed sashes in round-headed reveals with stone hood moulds and imposts. Door with window and fanlight above in 3rd bay from right. Main level treated similarly to front with banded rustication; similar window treatment to upper floors but with giant pilasters through 2 levels supporting entablature, and sill band to upper floor. Tripartite windows and balustraded balcony. Full attic storey in parapet with the 5 central bays higher with tall, round-headed sashes in round-headed reveals with hoodmoulds and imposts, between pilasters. Further cornice and panelled blocking course above. INTERIOR: the excellent interiors were gutted in 1971 and replaced by modern offices. One of the first grand railway hotels in London, serving London Bridge Station (qv) opposite.

Listing NGR: TQ3274580336