Lewisham Town Hall

Lewisham Town Hall is the civic heart of the London Borough of Lewisham, standing on Catford Road in south-east London. It is a complex of buildings from different decades, and its oldest part is protected as a Grade II listed building.

What is Lewisham Town Hall?

The site is a municipal building that today serves as the headquarters of Lewisham London Borough Council. It is not a single structure but a group of wings built over several periods. The oldest section dates from 1932 and consists of a curved block that once housed the municipal offices, together with an adjoining concert hall. Newer wings added between the 1950s and the 1970s now hold the council's administration.

When was it built, and by whom?

The 1932 extension was designed by the architects Bradshaw Gass & Hope in an Art Deco style. Construction was carried out by G. E. Wallis & Sons and began in May 1930. The new building rose on the site of an old fire station and was meant to be a focal point for civic and cultural life in the area. Local history sources say it was opened by the Duke of York.

The concert hall was given some slightly Gothic features. They were intended to relate it to the neighbouring Victorian-era vestry hall, a Gothic-style building dating from 1875. That older hall stopped serving as the town hall in 1932, when the new building replaced it. It was demolished in 1968, despite efforts to save it.

Why is it listed?

The curved office block and the concert hall of 1932 are Grade II listed, a status confirmed in December 1993. The listing recognises the group as a good example of interwar civic architecture in London. The later wings from the 1950s to the 1970s are not part of that protected core.

What happened to the concert hall?

The hall later became known as Lewisham Concert Hall. Today it is the Broadway Theatre, a venue on Rushey Green in Catford with two auditoriums: a main theatre of around 800 seats and a smaller studio space. This means that part of the 1932 civic scheme still serves its original cultural purpose.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Lewisham Town Hall?

On Catford Road, in the Catford area of the London Borough of Lewisham, in south-east London. Its coordinates are roughly 51.445 N, 0.021 W.

Is it a working building?

Yes. It is the headquarters of Lewisham London Borough Council, so it is mainly an administrative building rather than a tourist attraction. Visitors interested in architecture can admire the curved 1932 facade from the street.

Can I see a show there?

The former concert hall operates as the Broadway Theatre, which hosts performances in its main auditorium and studio. Check the theatre's own programme for current events.

What architectural style is the oldest part?

The 1932 section is Art Deco, with a few Gothic touches in the concert hall chosen to harmonise with the vestry hall that once stood next to it.

Who designed it?

The architects Bradshaw Gass & Hope designed the 1932 extension.

Visiting

Catford is an ordinary residential and commercial district, so a visit to the town hall pairs naturally with a look at the Broadway Theatre and the surrounding streets. Those interested in interwar architecture will find the curved office block and concert hall the most rewarding parts of the complex to see.