Devon Mansions
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Devon Mansions are a set of five residential mansion block buildings situated along the south side of Tooley Street in South London. The buildings are located within the London Borough of Southwark and are included in both the Tower Bridge and Tooley Street Conservation Areas.[1]
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[edit] History
During the Victorian era, the area between Tooley Street and the River Thames to the east of what is now Tower Bridge, was one of the largest warehouse complexes in London. Completed in 1873, these warehouses housed huge quantities of tea, coffee, spices and other commodities, and became known as London’s Larder, due to the vast array of goods and provisions from across the globe.
Despite the commercial success of the warehouse businesses, there were serious problems of poverty, overcrowding and poor sanitation amongst those living in the local area. In 1875, a number of “model dwelling” tenement blocks were built in the area adjacent to the docks to help house local residents and address some of these social problems.[2] Originally called the Hanover Buildings, these buildings were renamed Devon Mansions during the early 20th century.
Devon Mansions was an early example of social housing and, as such, its initial tenants were predominantly working class residents from the Horselydown area (now Bermondsey). However, like many social housing initiatives close to Central London, the composition of tenants in Devon Mansions changed significantly during the 1980s following the launch of the Right to Buy Scheme under the Thatcher Government. As a result, a significant proportion of current occupants of Devon Mansions are now private owners.
[edit] Architectural Style
Devon Mansions comprises five separate, six-storey mansion blocks, all built in an identical style.
The buildings are of yellow brick, with a repetitive pattern of domestic scale sash windows organised within a simple arrangement of string courses and cornices, providing balancing vertical elements with splayed windows and stone quoins. Interest at street level comes from street railings that protect half basements and the main entrances to the buildings.
The Devon Mansion buildings are a good example the mansion block style of the era. Indeed, during its Conservation Area Appraisal, Southwark Council specifically identified Buildings 1 and 2 of Devon Mansions as “making a positive contribution” to the local area - one grade below listed status.[3]
[edit] Location
The Devon Mansion buildings are located on five separate sites spanning a distance of approximately 600m along the south side of Tooley Street. Details of the five buildings are as follows:
- Building 1 (blocks 1-3) is located between Barnham Street and Druid Street, opposite Potters Field and the More London complex.
- Building 2 (blocks 4-7) is located between Fair Street and Tower Bridge Road, opposite the former St Olave's Grammar School and statues commemorating Ernest Bevin, British Labour leader, and Samuel Bourne Bevington, the first Mayor of Bermondsey.
- Building 3 (blocks 8-13), otherwise known as Hartland House, is located between Tower Bridge Road and Fair Street, opposite Shad Thames.
- Building 4 (blocks 14-19) is located between Fair Street and Tanner Street, opposite Shad Thames.
- Building 5 (blocks 20-21) is located between Tanner Street and Sweeny Crescent, opposite the southern end of St Saviour's Dock.
The nearest stations are Tower Hill (District and Circle lines), London Bridge (Jubilee, Northern and national rail), and Bermondsey (Jubilee line) each about 10–15 minutes' walk away. The walk towards London Bridge or Tower Hill is extremely scenic, particularly at night, with views of many landmarks such as the new City Hall, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. Devon Mansions are also served by London bus routes 188, 47, N47, 381, N381, 343 and RV1.
[edit] Damage During The Blitz
The area along the south bank of the Thames was heavily targeted by the Luftwaffe during World War II, due to presence of strategically important transport and storage infrastructure. As a result, buildings on Tooley Street were often at threat of destruction from German bombs during the Blitz.[4]
On December 29, 1940, in one of the most devastating bombing raids of the Blitz, German planes attacked the City of London with incendiaries and high-explosive bombs, causing what has been called The Second Great Fire of London.
During this raid a high explosive bomb landed on Building 3 of Devon Mansions, destroying a 20 metre section of the building between Blocks 12 and 13. According to the Civilian War Dead Register of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, three residents were killed by the blast.[5] [6]
The damaged section was repaired in full in 1950 - however it is still possible to see the site of the bomb impact, as the brick used to repair the building is of slightly darker colour than its surroundings. A plaque also commemorating the event is also visible at street level.
[edit] Devon Mansions Today
During the 20th century the docks that had brought so much prosperity to the area went into decline. However, during the 1980s and 1990s, many of the disused but picturesque warehouses along the River Thames were converted into expensive flats, highly sought-after by those wanting to live close to the City of London.
Although apartments in Devon Mansions have not seen the same level of property price inflation as those in neighbouring Shad Thames, they have benefited from gentrification of the local area. Many of the original local authority tenants have been displaced by private owners and there is currently a healthy demand for rental properties driven by city workers attracted by the proximity to the city, and selection of top restaurants, cafes and bars in Shad Thames, London Bridge and Borough High Street.[7] [8]
[edit] References
- ^ List of Southwark Borough Council Conservation Areas
- ^ Tooley Street Conservation Area Appraisal
- ^ Tooley Street Conservation Area Appraisal
- ^ List of V1 and V2 bomb sites and casualties in SE1
- ^ List of casualties from Dec 29, 1940
- ^ CWGC Debt of Honour Register
- ^ Article on Ex-council apartments from FindaProperty.com
- ^ For example, this property is typical of the type available for rent within Devon Mansions
