The old Coroner’s Court and Mortuary on Ladywell Road is one of four council owned sites that Lewisham has decided are surplus non-strategic assets and should be sold on the open market to private developers.
The condition of the Grade II listed court and mortuary buildings is poor and the council says it is unable to fund the capital investment required to bring the buildings back into proper use.
A report to Mayor and Cabinet says the sale will contribute to the council’s capital programme, releasing funds for housing development.
Council officers say the buildings have the potential to be converted into a mixed use development, including workshops and residential units.
Such a proposal “meets both the local housing and workspace needs while respecting the heritage aspect,” say officers.
The report to Mayor and Cabinet says development policies “will ensure sensitive conversion that respects the property’s historical and architectural significance.”
The report says a pre-application is being submitted to Planning “which will focus on the heritage significance of the site , with the aim of achieving a balance between housing delivery and conservation needs.”
The Coroner’s Court, mortuary, former fire station, police station and what is now the Playtower were all built on the site of Lewisham House, a large 17th century building which stood next to St Mary’s Church.
The court and mortuary were built around 1894 when Lewisham House was was demolished.
Darrell Spurgeon in his book ‘Discover Deptford and Lewisham’ , 1997, describes the Coroner’s Court as, “a fanciful Gothic, red brick building of 1894 with a grand entrance in Tudor style.” He dates the Police Station, 1899. The Old Fire Station is later 1901-2
In recent years property guardians have lived in the court building for security and it was once used temporariy as a cinema.
The other properties earmarked for sales by Lewisham are:
o (Former) Bankfoot neighbourhood office, 1 Bankfoot Road, BR1 5PP
o Trundleys, 160 Trundleys Road, SE8 5JE
o Mountsfield Park Lodge, Stainton Road, SE6 1AN