Listing Text

TQ3279
636-1/5/24
08/10/73

SOUTHWARK

AYRES STREET
(East side)
Nos.8 AND 8A
Bishop's Hall (No.8) and George Bell House (No.8A)
(Formerly Listed as:
AYRES STREET
(East side)
No.8
(George Hill House) with Hall behind)

GV
II

Community building in a domestic style, with former Redcross
Hall incorporated to rear, now studios and an office and flat.
1887-90. By Elijah Hoole. Red brick with tilehanging, pitched
tiled roof with 3 tile-hung gables. Strong Arts and Craft
influence.
2 storeys, 3 bays. Entranceways in outer bays, with pointed
arches and moulded brick hood moulds, that to left leading to
hall, that to right slightly smaller with stairs leading up
behind grille. 4-panel door to its left with overlight. 2
large 4-pane sash windows to ground floor. 2-light sash
windows to 1st floor beneath each gable. Deep tile-hung band
between floors. 2 prominent chimney stacks, 1 on ridge with
decorative moulded top.
Hall (now a studio with inserted false ceiling) stretches back
to a Gothic facade with simple lancet windows, terminating the
row of Redcross Cottages overlooking Redcross Gardens (qv).
INTERIOR: not inspected.
Nos 8 & 8A form an important group with Nos 1-6, Whitecross
Cottages, (qv) and the Redcross Cottages, Redcross Way (qv),
fronting Redcross Gardens behind, demonstrating the ideals of
Octavia Hill, the pioneer of wholesome working-class housing.

Listing NGR: TQ3230679965