The second stopping point on our tour around the architecture of Dulwich – inspired by Rembrandt’s Girl at a Window in Dulwich Picture Gallery – is not too far from the Gallery building, in the middle of a park. A short walk up the hill from Herne Hill station brings you to the panoramic views of Brockwell Hall.
Like many historic buildings Brockwell Hall is now owned by the public, not a private landlord, but you won’t need your English Heritage or National Trust card to get in here. The building is in the care of the local authority, Lambeth Council. And unlike other period houses which passed out of private hands a few generations ago, this place has been run by and for the public for many years.
The boundary of the park as it now stands is more-or-less the extent of land belonging to John Blades, a successful London glass maker, in the early nineteenth century. It was built between 1811 and 1813, so is exactly the same age as Sir John Soane’s Dulwich Picture Gallery, not very far away.
Blades didn’t get to enjoy his new home with amazing views over London for long. He died in 1829. After being passed into the hands of another family by marriage the Hall and park came into the ownership of London County Council and has been used ever since as a public park for the people of Lambeth.
This tour is supposed to be about windows, so let’s take a look at them. The east side of the building has some magnificent, curved windows which stretch from floor to ceiling, letting an abundance of light into what is now the public cafe. And there’s a rather hand ledge for sitting on and enjoying the view out onto the park.
And what’s that loitering underneath one of the windows? Can you see the square, scroll-like design that I’ve clearly got excited about spotting? It’s exactly the same design motif we see on the exterior decoration of Dulwich Picture Gallery, not a few miles away. What a coincidence? (Take a look out for it next time you’re there.)
So did Soane have a quick word with D. R. Roper, the architect of Brockwell Hall, perhaps? Maybe Roper happened to see the plans for DPG when it was being built? Or maybe it was just a fashion at the time to include Grecian motifs in architectural ornamentation. Either way, it can’t be a coincidence that they both just happen to have identical decoration and are built around the same time.
You can take a look at some of Roper’s original designs for the Hall and also see what the plan of the interior rooms used to be on one of my favourite historical websites, the excellent British History Online website.
They’ve been serving refreshments from the ground floor of Brockwell Hall since 1892. I wonder if it’s the oldest surviving tea room in the area. Does anyone know?
Refreshment is on the cards for the next stop on the tour of Dulwich’s windows. We’re off to the pub ….
Images: Thanks to Ingrid B!
