Centre of a Community

I never thought I’d say this, but I’ve fallen in love with a community centre. I think you will too.

Kingswood House is a glorious English mansion complete with towering battlements, grand reception rooms, sweeping staircases, glorious oak panelling, and even a billiards room. But rather than being hidden away in the countryside, it’s nestled away in a housing estate, near Sydenham Hill station.

Known to the locals as ‘The Castle’, this Grade-2-listed building is now managed by Southwark Council and used by locals as a community venue. I never even knew it existed!

History of the house
The original Tudor was rebuilt, much as it is today, by its owner in the late 1800s. During the first World War it was used as a hospital for Canadian troops, then as a Nurses home. In 1919 Sir William Vestey (a shipping magnate) was granted an 80 year lease on the House and when he was made a Lord in 1922 he took the title Baron Vestey of Kingswood. During the second World War it was used as offices and the RAF had a barrage balloon in the grounds.The House became the centre of the present estate in 1956 when the present housing estate was constructed around it.

Centre of a community
This fantastic building is now home to a variety of uses for the local community. There’s a branch of Southwark libraries and a variety of small arts organisations rent office space in the building. A room is given over to the Paxton Green Time Bank – a project set up by local residents who wanted to do something useful with their time, in exchange for services from other members. So, someone knits a scarf for someone else in return for some gardening. (A bit like the swap club in a well-known radio drama, but much more efficiently run!)

Venue hire
In addition, the beautifully kept formal rooms of the old mansion are available for hire and are licensed for weddings and civil ceremonies. It would be just the perfect place for a big party or celebration – and it’s a fraction of the cost of other nearby (admittedly more prestigious) venues. It’s also possible to hire our rooms in the house for meetings or local events at very reasonable prices.

What’s next?
I went to meet Jane Wenlock (secretary of the Friends of Kingswood House) who showed me around the many beautiful rooms and winding staircases that make up this magnificent building. From Jacobean panelling and intricate ceiling cornices to huge swathes of tapestry covering the walls and cosy corners in the billiards room, this is a house worth exploring. There’s even a dumb waiter which, legend has it, was used by the former owner Lord Vestey when he couldn’t get up the stairs!

Jane explained that the house isn’t used as much as it could be. Local people aren’t that bothered about it and don’t really engage. People from beyond quarter of a mile don’t even know it’s there and if they do, they won’t go because it’s surrounded by intimidating looking housing developments.

Come and have a look around!
With the aim of getting local people to understand more about what’s inside this fabulous house, Kingswood have organised an open day on 21 February when the whole place will be opened. There’s a Victorian theme to the day with parlour music, tapestry demonstrations, Victorian books and objects to handle and talks and workshops for all the family. Two small exhibitions (one on the history of Crystal Palace – with handling objects – and one called What the Victorian’s Did For Us?) will be on display as will objects made by a local youth group.

And they’ll be serving pie and mash with Bovril. Great stuff.

I’m certainly going to the Victorian Day and I’d encourage you to come and see it for yourself. Just pop in for half and hour to see what all the fuss is about. This beautiful building belongs to the community, but it’s not being used to its fullest potential.

Do come along and say hello to the staff and residents of Kingswood House. And discover another of the great hidden gems of south London.

Victorian Day is Saturday 21 February, 11am – 4.30pm.