Former Fire Station

The former Fire Station, now offices, was built in 1867-8 by Edward Creasy the Younger for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. Constructed of red brick with stock brick to the rear, the front facade features decorative contrasting black and white brickwork and stone dressings. The building has a flat-iron shaped plan and stands four storeys high, with a roof hidden by a brick cornice. The front elevation is nine windows wide; the third floor has two-over-two sashes under polychromatic, flat brick arches; the second floor has two-over-four sashes with rounded heads, the tympanum filled with faceted red brick; and the ground floor has two-over-four sashes with round heads, also under pointed brick arches. Most of the original window glazing remains, although the doors in the third and seventh bays were replaced in the 20th century. The rear elevation has scattered window openings. The interior remains unexamined. This is the earliest surviving inner-city London fire station and operated as such until 1877, when it was replaced by the fire station at Southwark Bridge Road. The building forms a noteworthy group with the building at No. 99 Southwark Street.