Church Of St George Brandon Hill

The Church of St George, now a concert hall, was built between 1821 and 1823 by Sir Robert Smirke. It is constructed from limestone and Pennant ashlar, with a largely hidden roof. The building follows a longitudinal plan, incorporating lateral vaulted chambers, with a sanctuary located behind a prominent portico, and U-shaped galleries on the first floor.

The design is in the Greek Revival style. The front features a tetrastyle portico, comprised of Greek Doric Theseion order columns set on shallow Pennant plinths. Behind the portico are three doorways with moulded architraves, fitted with 20th-century doors, above a plat band and three semicircular-arched windows. A short, square pedestal surmounted by a round lantern with Doric pilasters framing alternating blind and louvred square windows, and a dome with acroteria, completes the pediment. The north elevation, of seven bays, displays rustication at the basement level, a cornice, and a parapet, with lower windows featuring beaded reveals and semicircular arches above a plat band. A similar design is present on the south elevation. Projecting from the west end are two flights of stairs, each side featuring a door with a cornice supported by brackets, a semicircular arched window above, and flanking blind windows.

Inside, there is an entrance lobby at the west end and a portico providing access from the east end. U-shaped panelled galleries run along the sides and west end, supported by fluted cast-iron Doric columns and incorporating a panelled plaster ceiling with painted roses and other Greek Revival mouldings. An open-well stone staircase leads to the galleries from the portico. A lateral vaulted crypt is also present. A stage was inserted at the west end around 1987. Original features include late 19th-century pews, 18th-century box pews in the galleries, and a large, square marble font on short shafts. Marble sanctuary furniture made by Foster and Wood in approximately 1878 is currently in storage.

Originally built as a chapel-of-ease to the Cathedral of St Augustine, the building was converted to a concert hall around 1987. This is a notable example of Greek Revival architecture, reflecting Smirke's status as a leading practitioner of the style.