Bishop'S Hall And George Bell House

Bishop's Hall (No.8) and George Bell House (No.8A) are community buildings located on Ayres Street in Southwark. They were constructed between 1887 and 1890 by architect Elijah Hoole and showcase a domestic style with a strong Arts and Crafts influence. The buildings are made of red brick with tile hanging and feature a pitched tiled roof adorned with three tile-hung gables.

The structure is two storeys high and consists of three bays. The entranceways are located in the outer bays, featuring pointed arches and moulded brick hood moulds. The left entrance leads to the hall, while the right entrance is slightly smaller and has stairs leading up behind a grille. To the left of the right entrance, there is a four-panel door with an overlight. The ground floor includes two large four-pane sash windows, while the first floor has two-light sash windows beneath each gable. A deep tile-hung band runs between the floors, and there are two prominent chimney stacks, one on the ridge with a decorative moulded top.

The hall, which has been converted into a studio with an inserted false ceiling, extends to a Gothic facade featuring simple lancet windows. This facade terminates the row of Redcross Cottages that overlook Redcross Gardens. The interior has not been inspected.

Nos. 8 and 8A are part of an important group with Nos. 1-6, Whitecross Cottages, and the Redcross Cottages on Redcross Way, which front Redcross Gardens. These buildings exemplify the ideals of Octavia Hill, a pioneer of healthy working-class housing.