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Residents of Southwark, South London, are concerned for the future of a late 19^th century building which currently houses Bredinghurst School . Ofsted and Building Schools for the Future have deemed the Victorian main building and the six Edwardian semi-detached houses that comprise Bredinghurst School as ‘not fit for purpose’. This is largely because it is a special needs school, which would function better all in one unit.

Bredinghurst School main building, image courtesy of Benjamin Fletcher.

The school was originally built as a private residence in 1874 for Mr E. A. Dunn, who owned a company in Piccadilly Circus which made bowler and top hats. In the early 20 century it was given to the London County Council in lieu of death duties, and was used as a Children’s Home. In 1947 the house became a residential home for boys with learning difficulties.

In July 2011, Bredinghurst School will move into a new building occupying half of the present site. The other half of the site, which includes the main building and the six semi-detached houses, is to be sold for development. The fate of the buildings is as yet unclear, which is of great concern to school staff and Southwark local residents who hope to see the buildings saved.

English Heritage prepared an Advice Report on Bredinghurst School in February 2011. It did not recommend listing due to of a lack of ‘special qualities’ (such as an association with a famous architect or individual, an innovative use of materials, or compositional flair), and because the building is ‘representative rather than special’. While English Heritage often does recommend buildings built before 1840 for listing, those built after that point are assessed according to criteria of progressively greater selectivity.

Bredinghurst School ancillary buildings, image courtesy of Benjamin Fletcher.

Despite its final recommendation, English Heritage makes ‘the undoubted qualities of Bredinghurst School in a local context’ very clear. The current school buildings are of local architectural importance, and of local historic significance as an early children’s home and special school.

Bredinghurst School is an excellent example of strong local interest in the continued use and existence of buildings of local significance. In the context of the UK government’s new localism bill, it can be hoped that Southwark Council will listen to its residents and support their interest in their own community.

Image courtesy of Benjamin Fletcher and the SouthwarkLocalHistory Museum .