Municipal Water Board Headquarters,
Islington, London
Architect
Herbert Austen Hall
Date Built
Completed 1920
Location
Rosebery Avenue
Description
This grand building
on Rosebery Avenue and Hardwick Street in
Islington was built for the Metropolitan Water
Board on the site of their New River Head, the
place where water from Hertfordshire reached
London. The building houses the New River
Company's 17th Century board room that was
transferred to this 19th Century building.
Construction on the building began in 1915 to a
design by Herbert Austen Hall, but the First
World War intervened and it wasn't completed
until 1920. Apparently it cost
£324,205.
The building is Grade
II* Listed and at the time of its listing it
was described as being of, " .... Red
brick with ashlar
rusticated ground floor and dressings
and slate roof with ridge stacks.
Large irregular parrallelogram in
french classical style. Four
storeys and attic. Finely
modulated entrance front, a
7-window range, has an ashlar
3-window centrepiece with
rusticated ground floor giant Doric
pilasters above and carved doorcase
steps and lampstandards. Recessed
windows either side then projecting
single window section with a 1st floor
window with balcony, architrave and
pediment linked to window above."
