Now I know what is stirring down at the Orangery on Orangery Lane behind Eltham High Street

The Orangery in 1977

I am back with the Orangery that wonderful relic of the 18th century which nearly did not survive to see its 300th birthday sometime around 2020.*

It is “a very elegant red brick structure circa 1720; and was the end piece of the garden of Eltham House, which fronted the High Street until it was demolished in 1937.”**

And situated facing a car park behind the High Street it suffered from neglect and a lack of clear thinking as to what it might be used for.

Possible plans for the Orangery in 1974

As far back as the early 1970s the Council had suggested it could be restored and the area in front landscaped or conversely might form part of a multi-storey car park.***

But as ever the devil was not only in the detail but also that unless a creditable use could be found for it neither public money or private developers would foot the bill of restoring this historic building.

The Orangery in June 2013

So I was fascinated when my friend Jean began sending me photographs of the Orangery during its restoration.

At the time I was unaware of the role of the Greenwich Enterprise Board who had recognised that “the historic Orangery in Orangery Lane, Eltham is one of London’s Baroque gems. GEB has restored the Orangery itself and built seven business office/studio units on the adjacent site. 

Thomas Ford and Partners are the specialist architects who lead the design and these units are now available from November 2013. The new offices offer very high quality, contemporary workspace and will be a hugely prestigious home to their new tenants.”****

And the almost finished new project was photographed by Chrissie Rose earlier this month.

The Orangery in February 2014

Now there will always a debate over the use of old buildings.

The total unrealistic side of me wants to retain every one of them on the basis that they are a record of our past be they either a palace or a late 19th century Corporation urinal

But I know that is not possible.  Some buildings do just come to the end of their useful life and if no purpose can be found for them then they linger slowly deteriorating and open to all sorts of vandalism until they fall down or have to be demolished.

So the conversion of old textile mills and schools into apartments or offices is a compromise which retains the building and a bit of its history.

Of course the degree to which it has been converted will always pose questions about such projects and I would love to be invited around the new site on Orangery Lane.

Until then at least I now know what was stirring down at the Orangery at the end of last year.

Pictures; the Orangery in 1977 and 2013 from the collection of Jean Gammons and  the Orangery in February 2014 by Chrissie Rose.

*Something is stirring at the Orangery on Orangery Lane behind the High Street in Eltham  http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/The%20Orangery

**Spurgeon, Darrell, Discover Eltham, 2000

***A Future for Eltham Town Centre, Greenwich Borough Council, 1974

****Greenwich Enterprise Board http://www.geb.co.uk/the-orangery