Southwark Council has been awarded a commendation by English Heritage (EH) for work in rescuing and restoring a Grade ll listed building in Lordship Lane, south London, which was one of the UK’s first concrete private houses when built in 1873, while the restored two-storey detached property now provides five homes.
Southwark Council writes:
In December 2010, Southwark Council took possession of 549 Lordship Lane, nicknamed The Concrete House, after a lengthy legal process. Its former owner was brought to account for allowing it to fall into disrepair.
Since then, it has been carefully and sympathetically restored, with the help of English Heritage, architects and conservation experts to provide new homes soon to be let for up to five families, managed by Hexagon Homes.
This month, Southwark Council received an English Heritage Heritage Angel Commendation award for its efforts to rescue the beautiful building.
The commendation states that the award is to ‘recognise the time, effort and determination of Southwark Council to rescue The Concrete House. Heroic rescue projects like this make an important contribution to local and national history, to the life of the local community and to the vital task of securing England’s rich and varied heritage for present and future generations.’
The building is one of the first concrete private residencies of its type and of significant historical value.
It is a Grade II listed; two-storey detached house with attic built in 1873 by Charles Drake of the Patent Concrete Building Company, and is constructed of mass concrete walls with render, artificial stone dressings and a slate roof.
The building is of particular interest given its technical use of concrete at such an early date. Very few domestic buildings of this type and date exist.
Councillor Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration said, ‘This striking and unique building is of significant historical and cultural value to the borough, and to British architectural history. I’m delighted our efforts have been recognised by English Heritage but I am even more pleased that what would have been a pile of rubble has been restored to its former glory to provide new homes for local families. I’m sure its new residents will be proud to call The Concrete House ‘home’.’
For more information see: LINK
Search Planning Portal: LINK
