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Walthamstow Police Station (Vestry Road)

Overview

Location   Vestry House Museum, Vestry Road,  Walthamstow, London, E17 9NH

County   Essex

Year Opened   1841

Year Closed   1870

Century of Operation   1800-1899

Remarks   Grade II listed.

Vestry House MuseumPhoto © Mike Quinn (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Further information can be found at
https://www.prisonhistory.org/lockup/walthamstow-police-station-vestry-road/

Descriptions

  • 'Former parish workhouse, now museum. Dated 1730, with addition to north of 1756. Plum brick, red dressings. Tiled hipped double pitched roof to eaves; pantiles to north extension. South front of 2 storeys; 5 bays, 2 to left set forward. Main entrance to centre bay with inscribed plaque over. Segmental headed windows, flush frames; 12 paned sashes, glazing bars. Moulded timber eaves cornice. North wing lower; windowless with doorcase imported from Church Hill House, having waterleaf capitals and arched doorway within. Interior with original turned baluster staircase with planked dado; simple original panelling to entrance hall. Imported C17 panel- ling and mantlepiece from Essex Hall, etc.'
    Historic England, National Heritage List for England, 'Walthamstow Museum (Vestry House)', Walthamstow. LEN1191188

  • 'When the Metropolitan Police 'took possession of the district' in 1840 they applied to occupy the 1756 extension of the [Vestry House] building, and from 1841 until 1870 it served as their police station...In 1870 the police were transferred to a new station in Lea Bridge Road and their old premises were taken over by the Walthamstow Volunteers for use as an armoury. [After 1891 it] was then used by a local builder for the next forty years. '
    The Shady Lady's Guide to London, 'The Vestry and its Cage'.

Sources

  • The Shady Lady's Guide to London, 'The Vestry and its Cage'.
    http://www.shadyoldlady.com/location.php?loc=682
  • Historic England, National Heritage List for England, 'Walthamstow Museum (Vestry House)', Walthamstow. LEN1191188
    https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1191188