Description

1.
4412 ST GERMAN'S PLACE SE3

No 19 (Morden College)
TQ 4076 39/G91 19.10.51.

I

2.
1695-1702 by Sir Christopher Wren. Founded by Sir John Morden as almshouses
for "decayed Turkey merchants" and continues today as almshouses for needy men
of good character from the locality. Main (west) front of 2 storeys and basement,
12 windows, with projecting 2-window end wings with 2 windows in inner return.
4-bay centre projects slightly under pediment. Hipped, tiled roof with laced
valleys and wood modillioned eaves cornice, resting on keystones of 1st floor
windows. Dull red brick with brighter red brick dressings. Replaced sash windows
with glazing bars in flush frames under gauged brick arches with stone keys.
Stone 1st floor band ramped up to entablature of central doorway in rusticated
stone panel. Small door in panelled screen under round arch with cherubs' heads
on keystone, spandrels carved with fruit and flowers within columns and entablature.
Segmental pediment over, with coat of arms flanked by swags above. Tiny round
window in bight of each swag. In tympanum of pediment statues of Founder and
Wife in round arched niches flanked by scrolls, polychrome. On roof ridge wood
bell cupola with dome on 8 columns over square base with clock face. Vane above.
On inner returns of wings doorways with strongly projecting carved, scrolled
brackets on brick pilasters, supporting shell hoods.
Inner quadrangle of 9 by 11 bays, similar roof with modillioned eaves cornice
and 3 early C19 dormers. Segmental pediments on flat pilasters on East-west
axis and triangular ones on north-south axis. Similar walls and 1st floor windows
to outside. On ground floor alternating small sash windows and doors in stout
moulded frames. On north roof ridge against chimney a sundial, with baroque
borders dated 1695 with inscriptions "sic umbra sic vita." On ground floor
of East side an open colonnade of Roman Doric columns with continuous entablature.
Eeyond this the Chapel, a small, single-cell, barrel-vaulted chamber dominated
by high, carved reredos under 3 segmental pediments. Arms in garlands above
side pediments. Centre broken pediment holds Royal Arms in garland. High pulpit
with heavy carved and inlaid tester over. North and South ancillary buildings.

Listing NGR: TQ4036676476

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Morden College at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q6910808

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
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  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)