Royal Arsenal Cooperative Society Headquarters Building

TQ 4379 8/1

POWIS STREET, SE18, Nos 125-153 (odd) (RACS Headquarters Building)

II

Large commercial premises with retail outlet. 1903, by F Bethell for Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society. Red brick with terracotta dressings; slate roof. Italian Renaissance style. 2 to 3 storeys; symmetrical 21-bay facade. Mid C20 plate-glass windows to ground floor. Central 3-storey, 11-bay range: central 4- storey clock tower has terracotta facade articulated by fluted composite pilasters to each storey, semi-circular moulded arch set on Composite jambs to doorway, statue of Alexander McLeod (Society's Treasurer) by A. Drury set in open-pedimented aedicule with Composite pilasters, raised relief lettering bearing Society's motto etc to 2nd and 3rd storeys, and console cornice beneath copper-domed clock tower with segmental pediments set on half-columns to angled corners; first floor has 2-light semi-circular arched windows with decorative spandrels revealed in segmental-arched moulded architraves with pilasters; similar semi-circular arched architraves to second floor windows; bays are separated by Composite pilasters with enriched ornament to first-floor console cornice with enriched panelled frieze and to 2nd floor dentilled cornice with scrolled frieze; gabled outer bays, faced in terracotta, have canted bay windows with balustrade parapet and fluted Composite pilasters. 2-storey, 5-bay outer bays, in similar style, each have balustrade parapet and central scroll-pedimented dormer with Composite pilasters flanking Ipswich window. The style of this building consciously imitated Harrods of Knightsbridge.

Listing NGR: TQ4332979051