Description

BEXHILL

754/0/10017 THE PROMENADE
20-NOV-08 The Colonnade

II

Sheltered seaside structure for outdoor concerts and performances. Built in 1911 to commemorate the Coronation of George V. Designed by JB Wall FRIBA. Classical style. Constructed of brick and concrete, painted and rendered, with ornamental and structural cast iron and tiled floors.

PLAN: The central part is single-storeyed and semi-circular in plan flanked by two-storey circular pavilions with single-storey shelters leading off and flights of steps leading to the upper level at the ends.

DESCRIPTION: The central section has a single-storey curved colonnade of eleven bays, of which the central three bays are convex. The front is supported on Tuscan columns and an entablature with balustrading above with six cast iron lamp standards with globular lamps. The frieze to the central three bays has an inscription 'ERECTED MCMXI KING GEORGE V CORONATION YEAR'. The frieze to the western bay has the inscription 'ALDERMAN J A PATON J P. MAYOR' and the eastern bay 'J B WALL. F.R.I.B.A. ARCHITECT'. The concrete roof of the central three bays is supported on two cast iron columns. The rear wall of the colonnade is of painted brick in stretcher bond with plain pilasters and there is a central doorway probably leading to storage facilities. The western end bay and the eastern four bays of the colonnade have been blocked to form an office and cafe with rusticated walls, cambered arches and keystones. The ends of the colonnade have round-headed arches with keystones. The semi-circular colonnade is enclosed by low concrete planters and three semi-circular concrete steps. Attached on either side of the colonnade are two-storey circular pavilions. The ground floors have rusticated pilasters and round-headed windows with keystones. The upper levels comprises circular domed shelters supported on eight Tuscan columns. Attached to each side are convex curved single-storey shelters supported on ornamental cast iron columns with cast iron balustrading above. At the ends are flights of concrete steps with solid balustrading and corner piers with pyramidal caps leading to an upper promenade level.

HISTORY: The colonnade was built in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of George V and was designed as a sheltered structure from which to enjoy open-air beachfront concerts and performances. It was originally situated in front of a coastguard station, which was replaced in 1936 by the De La Warr Pavilion.

SOURCES
Allan Brodie and Gary Winter: England's Seaside Resorts (pubs. English Heritage, 2007)

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION:
* Seaside sheltered structures for outdoor performance are not numerous and 1911 is quite early for this building type.
* Architecturally it is a large and elaborate Classical style structure with well-proportioned columns, balustrading and two-storey pavilions.
* It survives substantially intact.
* It forms part of a group with the De La Warr Pavilion (Grade I) and Nos. 4-22 Marina Court Avenue (Grade II) and is an attractive and integral part of the setting of these two buildings.
* It commemorates the coronation of George V, an event not often commemorated.
* This event historically links The Colonnade with the adjoining terrace, 4-22 Marina Court Avenue, where the Maharajah of Cooch Behar died after attending George V's coronation.

Reasons for Listing

The Colonnade, The Promenade, Bexhill is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Examples of seaside sheltered structures for outdoor performance are not numerous and its 1911 date is quite early for this building type.
* It is a large and elaborate Classical style structure with well-proportioned columns, balustrading and two storey pavilions.
* It survives substantially intact.
* It forms part of a group with the De La Warr Pavilion (Grade I) and Nos 4-22 Marina Court Avenue (Grade II), and is an attractive and integral part of the setting of these two buildings.
* It commemorates the Coronation of George V, an event not often commemorated.
* This event historically links The Colonnade with the adjoining listed terrace where the Maharajah of Cooch Behar died after attending George V's coronation.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26672193

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

• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair