The Mansion House is a historic red brick building with a tiled roof that has been extended several times since its initial construction in the mid-18th century. The earliest part of the building is located at the south-east, where a 3-window range flanked by angled projecting towers, known as “bastions”, was designed to imitate a fort. Two of the bastions survive to this day, while the third has partially survived, and the fourth has been lost. Northwards extension took place in two phases, during the 1850s and mid-1890s.
There are also stable ranges dating back to the late 18th and 19th centuries, which were rebuilt in the 20th century. The eastern side of the building consists of 20th century brick ranges that were added when the Mansion House was used as a school. However, post-war additions are not of interest.
The exterior of the building boasts a two-story, three-window range at the south-east, flanked by two-storey angled bastions. The ground storey features an open arcade leading to a square tower, with a three-flue stack. A mid-19th century addition can be seen to the right, which is a two-story, three-window range that features a dentilled cornice and a brick parapet above. At the base of the tower is an entrance porch. To the right (north elevation) is a two-story range with a gable, three arched windows with blind tympana, a panel displaying the Coat-of-Arms, and a smaller gable to the right.
The interior of the Mansion House is variable in quality and interest, with particular highlights including two mid-Georgian rooms that are separated by a stack at the southwest end of the building, a polygonal wooden panelled niche, and an 18th-century staircase that leads from the first floor service area to the attic. There is also a large stair hall in the north-eastern part of the house that is dated from 1853, with a staircase in the Jacobean style, and a rococo-style fireplace.
The Mansion House has been occupied by many owners since its construction, including the Dutch barrister Henry Berens, who lived in the building from 1822 until his death in 1852. After his passing, his nephew Henry Hulse Berens purchased the building and expanded it until 1883. The daughter and her husband of Henry Hulse Berens continued the enlargement of the building into the early years of the 20th century, and later, the Mansion House became a school and a council office for the Borough of Sidcup and Chislehurst. Today, the London Borough of Bexley owns and occupies the Mansion House.
The Mansion House is listed because of its early Georgian fort plan, interior features, and the ha-ha to the east of the building. The ha-ha is constructed of flint and is about 1m high and 90m long. However, the garden walls are not included in the listing since they have been largely rebuilt recently.
Posted by JOHN K THORNE on 2023-01-09 19:31:29