Description

The following building shall be added to the list:-

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA SOUTHCHURCH AVENUE
TQ88NE
2/10018 The Kursaal
II
Amusement park building. 1898-9, by George Sherrin. Red brick, stone dressings, concrete and steel
structure. Slate roofs, partly glazed. L-plan with domed central hall and canted corner entrance,
2-storey range of shops to left of entrance with former dining hall to rear, 2-storey former bar to
right with former dance hall to rear. Principal elevation arranged in two parts: to the left a
symmetrical range of 9 bays with central entrance under open segmental pediment flanked by shops,
banded brick and stone pilasters and quoins, moulded cornice, tripartite first floor windows with
Doric column mullions; to the right two tripartite facades of 2 storeys and attic, the corner range
canted with later doors, each with a Flemish gable with open segmental pediment, Diocletian attic
window with moulded keystone and voussoirs, cornice and pilasters as before, terracotta swags. Bar
range projects slightly to right of entrance, hipped roof, brick parapet, single later first floor window.
The whole ground floor of this elevation is fronted by a canopy with cast iron columns, the roof
obscured by later boarding. N Elevation has, to the right, a tripartite range of two storeys and attic
under pediment, details as before; to the left a plain recessed range with two gables, close inspection
not possible. Square base of dome has Corinthian order, each elevation distyle in antis, coupled
columns projecting at corners, glazed between columns, dentilled cornice. Dome has 8 occulae in
scrolled surrounds and lantern with scrolled supports to each pier, onion dome and tall finial. At
the time of inspection, halls to rear gutted and partly demolished, shop fronts boarded. The interior
of the central hall retains glass inner dome, wrought iron balustrade to upper gallery and elaborate
plasterwork including tunnel vaults, moulded cornice and foliate capitals. Remainder of interior
derelict at time of inspection. This building is the principal and most architecturally important part
of the former amusement park which originally covered 26 acres and included a menagerie, music
hall, funfair, ninety shops and fifty-three houses. The surviving building appears largely unaltered.
The Kursaal is Sherrin's major work outside London. He completed the dome of the London
Oratory after the death of Gribble and the dome of The Kursaal is the only large dome he designed
subsequently. The Kursaal is the principal architectural monument to Southend's Edwardian boom
period. It has important townscape value. SOURCES: Buildings of England p.356. Gray, A. Stuart,
Edwardian Architecture, p.330.

Listing NGR: TQ8901785402

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Kursaal at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q6446511

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)