Charles Brooking
Major Rescue from The London
Pavilion, Piccadilly Circus
and The Trocadero
Charles Brooking is a fascinating and knowledgeable collector of architectural detail, The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail, and as Surveyors we find his lifelong quest to collect British building details unique, informative and valuable and a collection that must be kept intact for years to come. If you need help and advice with regard to building surveys, structural surveys, structural reports, engineers reports, specific defects report, dilapidations or any other property matters please free phone 0800 298 5424.
The following is one of a series of interviews with Charles Brooking, Historic and Listed Buildings Detail Expert, The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail and a Surveyor where we have recorded his comments and various aspects that have affected windows and doors and other collectibles. The interviews outline how his collection started and built over the years and gives an insight into the amazing architectural features housed in his fine collection.
Surveyor: Where in London is The London Pavilion?
Charles Brooking : Another major rescue at the former London Pavilion Music Hall, which is on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Coventry Street. The Pavilion faces and is on the north east side of Piccadilly Circus.
Rescue defined
Charles Brooking defines a rescue as saving a window or door or staircase that would be doomed.
Charles Brooking was a pioneer in the rescue of architectural detailing as many years ago it was very much considered a strange
I managed to rescue from The London Pavilion, Piccadilly Circus 1885 fire grates, windows, architraves and staircase sections.
The London Pavilion
The London Pavilion as it is known today once was called the London Pavilion Music Hall and was designed by James Ebenezer Saunders in 1885. There is an impressive facade and like many London buildings it has been amended and altered over the years but remains an iconic landmark.
Surveyor: What sort of windows?
Charles Brooking : These were sash window sections and thinking about it now 1930's balustrade section, fire grates, mantle registers, mass produced types in the dressing rooms at the back.
Surveyor: What had happened in the property?
Charles Brooking : It was being refurbished in 1985 with a Trocadero scheme and of course building behind the Trocadero itself. In 1980 I recovered interesting leaded light windows with moulded glass.
The other building I went to in 1990 was the Criterion Restaurant in Piccadilly Circus. I rescued interesting oak joinery pivoting windows from the Street rear elevation, circular windows from the Tube station 1907 or 1908 the original Piccadilly Circus Underground Station. As well as a very good example of a staircase balustrade from the restaurant.
Surveyor: What makes it a good example?
Charles Brooking : Well it was very large, a massive wrought iron almost French like balustrade and very heavy!
Surveyor: There are so many locations in London you have made architectural rescues in can you name some more?
Charles Brooking : I have rescued items at Victoria Station, Waterloo Station, by the same architect Alasdair MacDonald, Paddington Station, Fenchurch Street Station, that's in 1973 Blackfriars, which was a total demolition.
Surveyor: We understand that with your considerable architectural knowledge you have been asked on several occasions to give advice on prestigious historical London buildings?
Charles Brooking : Lambeth Palace, for the Church Commission, The Tower of London ....
I have also rescued many items from many of the London stations. The NUR building, Euston Road and Mine Workers Headquarters, Euston Road were both important rescues. In the Mine Workers building I rescued part of the amazing murals of the Drummer of the Miners Gala.
Other important rescues in London include Elizabeth Browning's family home at 99 Gloucester Place, Henry Mayhew's House in Albany Street, Peckham 1800's, Silverdell Road, Sydenham that was 1870's; I rescued there in 1976. In Brook Street, W1, Handel's house and more recently, the Bar Club, also in Brook Street .
Then there are many clubs where I have again made significant architectural rescues such as The Guard's Club, Mayfair, the In and Out Club in Piccadilly, The Army and Navy Club, 1750's, The Conservative Club, St James's, SW1 by Smirk 1845, and The Ritz Hotel.
Surveyor: What about recent art?
Charles Brooking : The Savoy Hotel, Admiralty Arch, Admiralty Building , The Admiralty, Whitehall , Horseguards by William Kent. Dover House, The Treasury Building, The Government Offices of 1894 by Brydon on the corner of Whitehall and Parliament Square, St Thomas ' Hospital and the Poultry Site the Club, City of London.
In the City of London there are so many. The Linen Bank, Bank of Scotland the National Westminster Bank.
Surveyor: Where are these located?
Charles Brooking : Threadneedle Street, Bishopsgate, Hamberers Bank, Barings Bank demolished in 1974, Midland Bank designed by Lutyens, Leadenhall Street . He designed the façade, the Daily Mirror Building , Holborn Circus designed by Owen Williams 1956/60. The Public Records Office, windows designed by I think it was Pennythorne and the extension of 1894. Tower of London windows designed by possibly Salvin 1870's, Tower Bridge door and window fittings and door furniture from Tower Bridge , Lions Corner House, the Strand . Also Regent Palace Hotel, which is ongoing at the moment and I think its Windmill Street or just off Piccadilly, Regent Palace.
That is quite a list!
If you found this article on The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail interesting you may also be interested in the following articles on our website:
Major rescue at St George's Hospital, London SW1
Major rescue at Downing Street, London
Windows and the Great Fire of London
Glass
Dampness and black mould
References:
TheBrookingCollection.com
DartfordArchive.org.uk
IHBC.org.uk
ProjectBook.co.uk
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