Listing Text

SOUTHWARK

TQ3576 ST MARY'S ROAD
636-1/12/726 (East side)
27/09/72 Southwark Adult Education Institute

II*

Formerly known as: Pioneer Health Centre ST MARY'S ROAD.
Medical and recreational centre, now adult education institute
and doctors' centre. 1934-5. By Sir Owen Williams. Concrete
and glass, brick plinth. Flat roof.
EXTERIOR: street front of 3 storeys, 12 bays. Glass front with
metal glazing bars is articulated by white concrete framework
with centre 6 bays gently rounded out above recessed ground
floor. High red brick plinth.
Heavy projecting quasi-entablature to each floor, forming
railed balcony to floor above, and to edge of flat roof.
Square 3-window end features with parapet. Concrete parapet to
these sections and 11-bay return elevations of lofty lower
storey with one storey above, divided vertically by projecting
pilaster strips.
Detached staircase tower annexe with access at 2nd-floor level
on south elevation.
INTERIOR: inside, a gymnasium and a lecture theatre of double
height flanked a central swimming pool, entered at 1st-floor
level. The front portion of the building was occupied, at
ground level by a children's playground and day nursery, a
lounge/cafe at 1st floor, and a library and rest room at
2nd-floor level.
Originally known as the Pioneer Health Centre; integrating
social and medical facilities, this building represented a
revolutionary idea and design, initiated by Doctors Scott
Williams and Innes Pearse.

Listing NGR: TQ3527676588