Southwark Educational Services Centre And Perimeter Wall

This is a late 19th-century board school, later adapted as local authority offices, situated in Southwark. Built in 1876, with an extension added to the rear in 1895, it was designed by E.R. Robson, the architect for the School Board for London. The building is constructed from red and yellow brick in an unusual bond pattern, alternating headers and stretchers and incorporating alternating header courses, with brick and rubbed brick dressings. The roof is tiled.

The building follows an H-shaped plan, comprising an eight-window main range with two-window gable-ended cross wings fronting Bellenden Road. The return of the cross wings to Maxted Road features a two-window range, while the full-height rear wing has three windows. It is three storeys high, with a basement level. The ground- and first-floor windows are arched, while the second-floor windows of the cross wings also feature segmental arches. Second-floor windows in the main range are flat-arched and paired, with alternate pairs topped by gabled dormers projecting below a sill band. A sill band also runs between the first and second floors. A storey band separates the ground and first floors. Pilaster strips, with capitals resembling Jacobean columns, articulate alternate first-floor windows in the main range, further emphasising the window rhythm. First-floor windows of the cross wings are framed by pilaster strips. Dutch gables crown the cross wings with string courses continuing from the second floor of the intermediate range. The left return features a series of segmental-arched blind arcades, two of which are pierced by small windows, and incorporate plaques bearing the date and the insignia of the London School Board. This layout is repeated on the rear elevation. A sympathetic extension to the rear incorporates halls and features a Dutch scrolled gable. A square cupola rises from the roof, tapering to an octagonal bell stage. Chimney stacks are located at the inner corners of the cross wings. The interior has not been inspected.

A perimeter wall built in Flemish bond brick includes a decorative gateway.