ROYAL ARSENAL BUILDING 20

ROYAL ARSENAL BUILDING 20, PLUMSTEAD ROAD SE18

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1245204
Date first listed:: 09-Jul-1997
List Entry Name:: ROYAL ARSENAL BUILDING 20
Statutory Address:: ROYAL ARSENAL BUILDING 20, PLUMSTEAD ROAD SE18

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Date:: 2006-05-05
Reference:: IOE01/15338/31
Rights:: © Ms Frances Ottaway. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1245204
Date first listed:: 09-Jul-1997
List Entry Name:: ROYAL ARSENAL BUILDING 20
Statutory Address 1:: ROYAL ARSENAL BUILDING 20, PLUMSTEAD ROAD SE18

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: ROYAL ARSENAL BUILDING 20, PLUMSTEAD ROAD SE18

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Greater London Authority
District:: Greenwich (London Borough)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ 43929 79271

Details

TQ4479 PLUMSTEAD ROAD SE18 (North side)

786- /9/10065 Royal Arsenal Building 20

GV II

Chemistry laboratory, now office. 1864, designed for Sir Frederick Augustus Abel, War Department Chemist, extended to E and S in 1885, 1903 and 1913. Yellow brick with red brick dressings, ridge stacks and slate roof Double-depth plan, extended to east and north. 2 storeys; 11-window range. Symmetrical front with plinth, moulded impost bands and first-floor ci1l band and brick eaves cornice, the recessed middle 5-bay range articulated by pilasters with moulded capitals. Central round-arched doorway has a fanlight and door with 8 raised diamong panels, and rubbed brick keyed round-arched sashes with margin panes. Similar 3-window side elevations and 3x3 bay blocks to rear, one with glazed clerestorey. INTERIOR: contains a central dogleg stair with ornate cast-iron balusters and twisted newel, curtail and moulded railings, axial passage and panelled doors. The left-hand room open to the roof which has cast-iron elliptical arches with open spandrels on moulded corbels, spanning the room and with similar arches to the hips, and a timber balcony all round on foliate cast-iron brackets with railings as the stair. Historical note: This was the first custom-built laboratory in the Arsenal. Its function is clearly expressed through the design of the laboratory itself, the open left-hand room allowing fumes to disperse from the lab benches. The E wing housed the early photographic section of the War Department. Formerly had iron balconies at both ends. Included as very early purpose-built chemical laboratory, exemplifying the role of the chemist as the most significant factor in the advance of research and development in the post-1850s period in Europe.

Listing NGR: TQ4392979271

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 468764
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.