4-7, Kelsey Square

A fire station, later converted to shops and offices, with attached cottages, was built in 1873 for the Beckenham Volunteer Fire Brigade. The building was commissioned by Peter Hoare, owner of the Kelsey estate. It is constructed of red brick with polychromatic detailing and has a gabled roof covered with plain tiles. Brick stacks rise from the ridge and ends, featuring oversailing courses. The architectural style is Mid Victorian Domestic Revival. The front facade is two windows wide, with a central clock tower. It features polychromatic segmental arches over paired plate-glass sash windows and a wide ground floor entrance. The corner of the side elevation is articulated with splayed moulded details and an external end stack. A triple-gabled left side wall, built in a similar style, incorporates hipped and gabled bracketed hoods over panelled, half-glazed doors. The fire station is noted as an early example of an architecturally elaborate building.