The Watchers Behind Downshire House (Roehampton University) Alton Estate
THE WATCHERS BEHIND DOWNSHIRE HOUSE (ROEHAMPTON UNIVERSITY) ALTON ESTATE, ROEHAMPTON LANE SW15
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1031600
- Date first listed:
- 15-Apr-1998
- List Entry Name:
- The Watchers Behind Downshire House (Roehampton University) Alton Estate
- Statutory Address:
- THE WATCHERS BEHIND DOWNSHIRE HOUSE (ROEHAMPTON UNIVERSITY) ALTON ESTATE, ROEHAMPTON LANE SW15
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2004-02-14
- Reference:
- IOE01/11781/30
- Rights:
- © Mr David March. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1031600
- Date first listed:
- 15-Apr-1998
- List Entry Name:
- The Watchers Behind Downshire House (Roehampton University) Alton Estate
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE WATCHERS BEHIND DOWNSHIRE HOUSE (ROEHAMPTON UNIVERSITY) ALTON ESTATE, ROEHAMPTON LANE SW15
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE WATCHERS BEHIND DOWNSHIRE HOUSE (ROEHAMPTON UNIVERSITY) ALTON ESTATE, ROEHAMPTON LANE SW15
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Wandsworth (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 22018 74117
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 11/10/2017
TQ 2274
1207/19/10049
ROEHAMPTON LANE, SW15(West side)
The Watchers behind Downshire House (Roehampton University), Alton Estate
(Formerly listed as The Watchers behind Downshire House (Garnett College), Alton Estate)
GV
II
Sculpture. 1960 by Lynn Chadwick, sited at Roehampton in 1963 by the London County Council. Bronze, cast from a frame of iron and spolit (gypsum and iron filings); over seven feet high on low plinth. Three abstract figures, of menacing and predatory character, that sum up Chadwick's fear of 'big brother', an Orwellian theme in tune with popular politics of the time. A fine example of his work, brilliantly sited where the figures can survey the whole Alton West estate, one of the LCC's greatest architectural achievements, across Downshire Field. It forms a stark contrast to the agrarian 'Bull' by Robert Clatworthy at the bottom of the slope.
Listing NGR: TQ2201874117
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 469114
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 11-Jun-2026 at 18:43:51.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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