Eltham Lodge

Eltham Lodge, built between 1663 and 1665 by Hugh May for Sir John Shaw, is a substantial building now serving as the clubhouse for the Royal Blackheath Golf Club. The lodge is two storeys with an attic and basement, originally featuring seven windows. The roof has a moderately pitched swept slate covering punctuated by two gabled dormers and a moulded, modillioned wooden eaves cornice. The central three-bay section slightly projects and is topped by a pediment, also with a similar cornice. The building is constructed of red brick, with gauged bricks used for the round window in the pediment, which is partially obscured by the Arms of the Golf Club and decorative swags. A stone band runs along the ground floor. Replaced sash windows with glazing bars are set within flush, moulded frames with moulded cills, and arched brickwork above. The central first-floor window is wider than the others. The central doorway has been modernised, featuring a cornice head and fanlight, within a moulded round architrave with a keystone, topped by a square outer architrave and a cornice hood supported on scrolled brackets. A flight of seven steps, curved on the sides and featuring a replaced wrought iron handrail, leads to the entrance. A modern, single-story, two-window extension sits on the left side.

The garden front has similar proportions to the main facade but lacks a pediment; the first-floor centre windows are flanked by shallow niches with gauged brick round arches. An early 19th-century, heavy classical tetrastyle porch has outer square columns, an entablature with a dentil cornice and blocking course displaying a clock face, and is flanked by small niches. Seven stone steps with curved balustrades and urns at the foot lead to the porch. The return walls incorporate round arched, blank window spaces alternating with windows.

Inside, the front hall is divided into two parts, separated by a double screen of marbled Ionic columns. The plaster ceiling is decorated with 18th-century rococo motifs in low relief. Two downstairs front rooms echo this rococo style, while a room on the right of the hall retains an old carved pine fireplace. The room on the left boasts complete mid-to-late 18th-century plasterwork with garlands and panels, complemented by five enriched doorcases. Ground floor back rooms feature an 18th-century ceiling in one and a 17th-century ceiling of geometrical panels with raised floral borders in the other. The original staircase is of heavy carved oak with a balustrade of spiral wreaths and cherubs, a rich rail with mouldings and enrichment, and an oak leaf swell frieze band beneath the string. The stairwell’s plaster ceiling features high-relief flowers and fruit in the central panel, with repeating patterns from the balustrade in the surrounding panels. The upstairs dining room possesses a highly ornate plaster ceiling with a rectangular centre and oval end panels, in a style similar to the stairwell. The room is extensively panelled, with enriched door and window entablatures and an original marble fireplace surround. The billiard-room's ceiling is divided into two sections: the eastern section showcases rococo 18th-century plasterwork, potentially originally a small ante-room, while the remainder is original with thick, raised borders of flowers, leaves, and acanthus scrolls. A low plastered beam with an eagle resting on fluted Corinthian pilasters partially divides the west section. Several original fireplaces have been removed and are now in museums, replaced by 18th and 19th-century French examples.