Brockwell Hall to become iconic community and wedding venue with a £6million refit

One of South London’s best-loved landmark buildings is set to become an iconic community and wedding venue with a £6million refit.

A £3.3million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will help restore the Grade II* listed Brockwell Hall, its stables and coach house for local projects, weddings and corporate bookings.

It will also get a cafe and host exhibitions and community activities.
The disused yard will become an events space. There will be a gallery, improved accessibility and landscaping around the building.

The National Lottery have given a grant of more than £3million to Lambeth council and Brockwell Park Community Partners for the project.

The main changes to the hall and stables will be:

• A new café and flexible community exhibition space to celebrate its history and space for the local community and artists to showcase their work and vision
• A new community events space for up to 200 people, created by building a
  permanent roof between the current Hall and the underused stables and coach
  house buildings. It could also host movie makers and photo shoots.
• New landscaping around the hall, with new stairs and accessible path to the main entrance
• A new lift to the basement and first floor inside the hall
• A dedicated volunteer hub in the basement with its own entrance, and more rooms in the hall opened up for community use
• A dedicated Brockwell Hall staff, including 2x new apprenticeships
  Work on the Hall will start in winter 2021 and the new hall will open to the public in spring 2023.

Brockwell Hall was built between 1811-1813 when the area was part of Surrey and was the country seat of glass merchant John Blades Esq.

The land and house were acquired by London County Council in March 1891 and opened to the public on 2 June in the following summer, led by the local MP Thomas Lynn Bristowe – who died of a heart attack on the steps of the hall at the unveiling.

In the 1920s, there were 13 cricket pitches in the park, which attracted crowds of up to 1,500 – and during the Second World War flocks of sheep were kept there.

The park hosts the annual Lambeth Country Show, which attracts hundreds of thousands of residents over the course of a weekend in July.

Cllr Sonia Winifred, Cabinet Member for Equalities & Culture, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to work with the National Lottery Heritage Fund, our residents and stakeholders on this exciting project.

“It will bring new life to an underused, overlooked heritage building, with the project plans delivering real benefits for local people.”

Ann Kingsbury, Chair of Brockwell Park Community Partners, said: “We are very excited about this project. The initiative came from the community in the first instance and there is widespread support for it. The Hall will be self-sustaining but there will be community access.

“It has been achieved by partnership working with the Council that we hope will ensure the future of the Hall and the Park.”

Stuart McLeod, Director London &South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are thrilled to support Lambeth Council in restoring the important Grade II* listed manor house Brockwell Hall. At the heart of the Brockwell Park community since 1813, the manor house, coach house and stables remain now largely underused due to their current conditions.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, a substantial grant of over £3million will help restore the hall and architecture, celebrate its history, and open it up to greater public access.

“Furthermore, establishing it as a venue for exhibitions, community meetings and events, weddings and corporate bookings will secure Brockwell Hall’s future through sustainable and long-term revenue.”