1901 - Baptist Church House - Southampton Row, London, UK
N 51° 30.083 W 000° 07.226
30U E 699853 N 5709514
This building was built as a Baptist Church House but has deteriorated over recent years and is currently not used. There are plans to convert the Grade II* listed building into a luxury hotel.
Waymark Code: WME81Q
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/16/2012
Views: 1
The inscription on the cornerstone, that sits above head
height, reads:
"This memorial stone
was laid by
Alexander Maclaren D.D LittD.
President of the Baptist Union
1875-6 and 1901-2
on Wednesday 24th April 1901".
The building is Grade II* listed and the entry at English Heritage (visit
link) reads:
"Includes: Kingsgate House Catton Street. Office block
and shops with former chapel; Kingsgate House, Catton Street forms the return
and rear of this building. 1901-1903. By Arthur Keen, architect for the Baptist
Union of Great Britain and Ireland. Restored in 1946 by RM Piggott. Exterior
sculpture by Richard Garbe and internal plasterwork by Lawrence Turner. Portland
stone ashlar with tiled roofs.
STYLE: "Wrenaissance" style with Flemish inspired
shaped gables, eclectic Baroque and Arts and Crafts details. EXTERIOR: 4 storeys
with attic gables and 4 stage attic tower. 5 bays to Southampton Row, 3-bay
return and 6-bay wing to Catton Street. North west corner splayed. Ground floor
has 3 wide segmental-arched shop fronts, at south the surviving original shop
window. Off-centre centre doors and fanlight. First floor has segmental-arched
tripartite windows, over entrance with attached Corinthian columns, at south end
bay flanked with 2 additional openings. Second and third floors have alternate
flush rusticated bays with recessed bays having giant Ionic columns through both
storeys. Third floor with 4 arch headed windows with Ionic half columns and
pediments; 4th floor with 4 straight headed windows; additional flanking
openings to south end bay on both floors. First and second floor bands,
rusticated angle quoins, and attic cornice. Sashes with glazing bars throughout.
Attic pediment over entrance bay with attic tower above, Wrennian inspiration
angle pilasters, urns, dentil cornice, octagonal bell stage with arched louvred
openings. Concave octagonal arched windows with lunettes over, shaped verges and
apex aedicules. Much metalwork decoration to balconies and sills. Splayed
north-west angle has foundation tablet dated 1901 and, above, a statue of John
Bunyan by Richard Garbe, sculptor. Return to Catton Street has 3 stone ashlar
and 6 red brick and stone dressed bays. Arched ground floor openings. Gabled 1st
floor and arch-headed second floor sashes with glazing bars. Attached at
north-east, former Kingsgate Chapel. 2 storeys with attic; polygonal on plan.
Tripartite lunettes, angle pilasters, polygonal tiled cupola with clerestory and
conical roof. 2 storey advanced porch. 3 stage tower with angle quoins, gabled
windows, swept lead roof with cupola."
Visit Instructions:
When logging a visit to a waymark in this category, please provide one or more photos taken by yourself, and note down your impressions and any background information you may have.