East Lodge at Nunhead Cemetery

Aerial view of Nunhead Cemetery East Lodge and surrounding area
Proposed restoration of the East Lodge

The East Lodge forms one of the pair of lodges framing the northern entrance to Nunhead Cemetery. The East Lodge (Listed Building Grade II) has been on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register since 1988 and is now in a state of serious decay. The lodge has had scaffolding and a temporary roof for over 20 years to provide protection and shore up the structure, while decisions on its future were made.

Our commitment is to remove the East Lodge from the Heritage-at-Risk register. The lodge will be restored as closely as possible to its original design externally. We'll aim to use reclaimed materials from the site, including bricks, stone, timber, panelling etc., and restore them to their original location wherever possible. Elsewhere, we'll source like-for-like replacements.

This project will provide spaces for community use for local groups. Many rooms are designed to be multi-purpose. A café based inside the lodge is proposed as enabling development, to ensure the project's economic sustainability.

We'll also minimise the carbon footprint of the development and its future operation.

Process

In September 2014, the council agreed to work with the Friends of Nunhead Cemetery to assess the future of the East Lodge. In early 2015, Historic England agreed to help in this assessment by granting funding to Southwark Council to have structural and condition surveys undertaken, and an options appraisal for the lodge produced. The surveys and options appraisal were completed in June 2017 and detail the current condition of the building and provide a series of options and costs for the potential future use of the building.

The interim structural works, completed in October 2022, stabilised the building and made it safe until the main restoration project can begin.

Current status

December 2023

After a successful development phase, Southwark Council and Friends of Nunhead Cemetery have now submitted a Round 2 grant application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

We are keeping our fingers crossed as we are expecting a decision by the end of March 2024, and are getting ready for the delivery phase in the meantime.

The delivery of the project will include the restoration of the East Lodge as well as the replacement of the FONC cabin, and the implementation of the Interpretation Plan, Digital Strategy, Woodland Management Plan, Activity Plan and Volunteering strategy.

A new role will be created to lead and grow the existing events designed to engage residents across all communities, such as oral history sessions, practical woodland management sessions, exhibitions and art events.

Roger Mears Architects’ design for the restoration has received planning and listed building consent. Details can be found on our online planning register, searching for application numbers: 21/AP/2274 and 21/AP/2275.

A planning amendment application has been submitted: 23/AP/3589 and 23/AP/3590 (Listed Building Consent)

The reference for the Planning application for the new FONC Cabin is 23/AP/2875.

Please email parks@southwark.gov.uk for more information or if you would like to be added to our distribution list for regular updates on the project.

Online survey

Thank you to everyone who responded to the survey. 

The results of the public consultation, held between January and March 2022, are available below:

Page last updated: 07 March 2024

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