Morden College

1. 4412 ST GERMAN'S PLACE SE3

No 19 (Morden College) TQ 4076 39/G91 19.10.51.

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1. 1695-1702 by Sir Christopher Wren. Founded by Sir John Morden as almshouses for "decayed Turkey merchants" and continues today as almshouses for needy men of good character from the locality. Main (west) front of 2 storeys and basement, 12 windows, with projecting 2-window end wings with 2 windows in inner return. 4-bay centre projects slightly under pediment. Hipped, tiled roof with laced valleys and wood modillioned eaves cornice, resting on keystones of 1st floor windows. Dull red brick with brighter red brick dressings. Replaced sash windows with glazing bars in flush frames under gauged brick arches with stone keys. Stone 1st floor band ramped up to entablature of central doorway in rusticated stone panel. Small door in panelled screen under round arch with cherubs' heads on keystone, spandrels carved with fruit and flowers within columns and entablature. Segmental pediment over, with coat of arms flanked by swags above. Tiny round window in bight of each swag. In tympanum of pediment statues of Founder and Wife in round arched niches flanked by scrolls, polychrome. On roof ridge wood bell cupola with dome on 8 columns over square base with clock face. Vane above. On inner returns of wings doorways with strongly projecting carved, scrolled brackets on brick pilasters, supporting shell hoods. Inner quadrangle of 9 by 11 bays, similar roof with modillioned eaves cornice and 3 early C19 dormers. Segmental pediments on flat pilasters on East-west axis and triangular ones on north-south axis. Similar walls and 1st floor windows to outside. On ground floor alternating small sash windows and doors in stout moulded frames. On north roof ridge against chimney a sundial, with baroque borders dated 1695 with inscriptions "sic umbra sic vita." On ground floor of East side an open colonnade of Roman Doric columns with continuous entablature. Eeyond this the Chapel, a small, single-cell, barrel-vaulted chamber dominated by high, carved reredos under 3 segmental pediments. Arms in garlands above side pediments. Centre broken pediment holds Royal Arms in garland. High pulpit with heavy carved and inlaid tester over. North and South ancillary buildings.

Listing NGR: TQ4036676476