LCC Fire Brigade Station, Euston Road, London



Architect
 W. E. Riley LCC Architects Department  ----  Percy Erskine Nobbs
Date Built
 1901 - 1902
Location
 Euston Road at Euston Square
Description
Percy Nobbs is credited with the design of this London County Council Fire Brigade Station.  The building was completed in 1902 and by 1903 Nobbs was teaching architecture at the University of Montreal.  He went on to have a distinguished career as the architect of a number of prominent Canadian buildings.  Apparently, his original building was altered and extended around 1920 and again later in the C20.

The building is L-shaped with the main frontage along the Euston Road.  It comprised appliance bays with flats above.  The Arts and Crafts style red brick building is dressed with Portland stone.  The taller original block contained two appliance garages which apparently are used today for administrative purposes.  The one-storey extension is now home to the appliances.



The building has Grade II Listed status and the Listed Buildings website says that it gained its listed status because:

"It is widely regarded as the masterpiece of a remarkable group of fire stations built by the LCC between 1896-1914, and stands at the summit of achievement of LCC civic architecture of this rich and prolific period;

 A highly original interpretation of the Arts and Crafts style, expressed through its dynamic façades and bold, skilful massing, coupled with high-quality materials and detailing; its romantic silhouette is a prominent landmark;

 Well preserved externally, with original boundary walls and ironwork."

The website reflects on its, " ... asymetrical façades, irregular height and massing, projecting square and canted bays, and oriels. Picturesque roofline with deep eaves broken by projecting gabled bays, dormers and tall stacks. Varied fenestration, combining mullioned-and-transomed and narrower two-light vertical windows, and some oculi. Metal casements with leaded lights."

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