Camberwell Public Baths

CAMBERWELL PUBLIC BATHS, ARTICHOKE PLACE

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

Explore this list entry

Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1376535
Date first listed:
27-Jul-1993
List Entry Name:
Camberwell Public Baths
Statutory Address:
CAMBERWELL PUBLIC BATHS, ARTICHOKE PLACE
User submitted image
Contributed by Philip Sutters This photo may not represent the current condition of the site. Over 400,000 images and stories have been added to the Missing Pieces Project so far. Share your story.
View all

Location

Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places. 

There is a problem

Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions .

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.

What is the National Heritage List for England?

The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.

The list includes:

Icon Buildings
Icon Scheduled monuments
Icon Parks and gardens
Icon Battlefields
Icon Shipwrecks

Find out more about listing

Images of England Project

To view this image please use Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Edge.
Archive image, may not represent current condition of site.
Date:
2001-09-09
Reference:
IOE01/04552/11
Rights:
© Mr David March. Source: Historic England Archive

Local Heritage Hub

Unlock and explore hidden histories, aerial photography, and listed buildings and places for every county, district, city and major town across England.

Discover more

Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1376535
Date first listed:
27-Jul-1993
List Entry Name:
Camberwell Public Baths
Statutory Address 1:
CAMBERWELL PUBLIC BATHS, ARTICHOKE PLACE

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
CAMBERWELL PUBLIC BATHS, ARTICHOKE PLACE

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

County:
Greater London Authority
District:
Southwark (London Borough)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
TQ 32697 76818

Details

SOUTHWARK

TQ3276 ARTICHOKE PLACE 636-1/11/14 (North side) 27/07/93 Camberwell Public Baths

II

Public baths. Design in 1890; dated to 1891. By Henry Spalding and Alfred WS Cross. Red brick in Flemish bond with rubbed brick and terracotta and artificial stone dressings. Netherlandish Renaissance style. EXTERIOR: roof parapeted. Gable facing elevation of 5-window range, which contains offices and caretaker's room. Single-storey bath halls to rear. Elevation to Artichoke Place has 3-storey wings with 4-storey centre ranges; single-storey structure of 3-window range to right return. All openings are flat-arched, pair of main entrances in 2nd- and 4th-window ranges, each with overlight of decorative glazing forming the words "Public Baths"; to right another, less elaborate entrance. Main entrances set in Tuscan aedicule with dentil cornice and panelled parapet above. Broad storey band between ground and 1st floors. Architraves to all ground-floor openings of moulded and rubbed brick. All windows with projecting sills, each supported by projecting brackets. 2nd- and 4th-window ranges, 1st to 3rd floors, framed by Tuscan pilastrade on each floor; the pilasters ornamented with terracotta panels in a heart pattern. Sill bands to 1st- and 2nd-floor windows. Entablature floor band between 1st and 2nd floors and full entablature above the 2nd floor, the centre sections inscribed "Camberwell Public Baths"; frieze to side ranges has swags in rubbed brick with dentil cornice. Parapets above 1st- and 5th-window ranges curve up to meet higher central section; on 3rd floor same pilaster treatment as below but shorter; Dutch gable cresting above with shell in pediment; the cresting with a clock face. Stacks to right return wall and between 1st- and 2nd-, and 4th- and 5th-window ranges. INTERIOR: in lobby the pay box survives. The slipper baths have been removed, to be replaced by gym facilities. Behind entrance lobby is 1st-class bath, of 14 bays with viewing gallery to all sides and lit by skylight; roof truss formed from a pair of hammer beams from which spring an arched brace, each bay tied by a wrought-iron brace. Side aisles formed by orthostats supporting concrete beams. One segmental-arched window for each bay. The gallery front of iron, curved in

section with open filigree work. Plaque on front wall, between entrances: "Camberwell Public Baths and Wash Houses. These buildings were erected for the Parish of Camberwell in the year 1891. Commissioners, JT Sears, RT Bonsall, JT Ralph, R Strong JP LCC, GL Turney JP, M Wallace, George Marsden Clerk to the Vestry [of Camberwell Parish], Spalding and Cross Archtitects, Balaam Bros. Builders, C William Tagg Clerk of the Works". HISTORICAL NOTE: this is one of the earliest baths which involved the architect Alfred Cross who later became a leading expert on the design of public baths and the author of the standard work on the subject, "Public Baths and Wash-houses" of 1906. Spalding also specialised in the design of this building type. His earlier works in London, in Buckingham Palace Road and Finchley Road, both designed in partnership with Auld, do not survive. The Camberwell Baths and the Dulwich Baths on Goose Green are the earliest surviving works of Spalding partnerships.

Listing NGR: TQ3269776818

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
470538
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.

Ordnance survey map of Camberwell Public Baths

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 06-Jun-2026 at 08:05:50.

Download a full scale map (PDF)
© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

Previous Overview
Next Comments and Photos