Bowie Bandstand

Restoration of Bromley’s much loved Bowie Bandstand is now nearing completion. The bandstand’s crown has been restored and gilded with funding from HOLT – with thanks to Knight Frank for their generous support.

The £245k project for the bandstand, where David Bowie famously performed in 1969, included restoring its intricate ironwork, landscaping improvements and upgraded lighting that can be used for performances.

Bromley Councillor Will Rowlands commented: “I’d like to sincerely thank Heritage of London Trust for their support and additional grant as well as their original monies. Thank you and congratulations should also go to Bowie’s Beckenham Oddity and other Bowie fans who are supporting this work, along with the many community fundraisers, and all of those who have bought a bandstand brick and of course the Friends of Croydon Road Recreation Ground.”

Dr Nicola Stacey, Director, Heritage of London Trust commented: “This is a one-off opportunity to restore a bandstand of significant cultural importance and it is vital that it looks as splendid as possible. We have been delighted to support the conservation work and see the whole corona gilded.  Through our engagement work in HOLT’s Proud Places programme local young people have been involved in each exciting stage of the project and especially loved the gilding process.”

The bandstand was installed in 1905 and is a rare example of intricate iron work, with its pattern work and casting the only remaining example in Britain. David Bowie played at the bandstand in the Summer Growth Festival in 1969.

The bandstand will reopen to the public later this spring.

Peckham Rye Station

We were delighted today to join the unveiling of a plaque at the award-winning Peckham Rye Station project. HOLT Director Nicola Stacey spoke about HOLT’s recasting of the station’s 1865 iron cresting on the roof of the station - a stunning example of Victorian architect Charles Driver’s ironwork design. Using the original archive drawings, the crestings were recast by FSE Foundry in Braintree and their 32 finials gilded by Kevin Ruggeri. HOLT supported the restoration at each stage to ensure the golden cresting’s return to its former glory on the roof of the station building. 

Speakers included Harriet Harman MP who unveiled the plaque, Andrew Wood from Network Rail, BAM, architect Benny O’Looney, Andy Savage and Tim Hedley-Jones from the Railway Heritage Trust.

HOLT x Berkeley Homes & Farrer Huxley

An exciting partnership between HOLT's Proud Places programme, housing developers Berkeley Homes and landscape architects Farrer Huxley is yielding inspiring results. Young people from City of Westminster College have been working on ideas for what should become of a 50-metre-long concrete relief which decorates the southern side of Paddington Green Police Station. Dating from the late 1960s, the panels were designed by J Innes Elliott, the Metropolitan Police architect.

Over the next year Proud Places is taking part in a series of workshops which will see the 16-17 year olds take part in real world practical exercises, working with designers to have a significant influence on the permanent landscape of their local area. The concrete reliefs will be adapted and re-used in the new housing development.

“I’d like to add some poetry or motivational quotes in different languages to the back of the panels as Edgware Road is a very diverse area”

– First year T level student, Art & Design

“We want the panels to be re-used in three different elements, earth, water and plants”  

– Diego, T level student, Civil Engineering

“The panels remind me of ancient history, hieroglyphics and abstract art”

– Kai, T level student, Civil Engineering

So far, 45 students from City of Westminster College have participated in public realm and landscape design workshops with Berkeley Homes and Farrer Huxley, created their own designs and pitched their first presentations.

"These streets have been my route to work for the past 20 years and they get ever grimmer. It's been largely a wasteland - neglected spaces filled with rubbish. This is such an exciting project and will really lift the area."

 – Louise Reynolds, T level Lead, Curriculum Manager, City of Westminster College

In 2024, the students will be working with a professional sculptor on their proposals, developing their designs with Berkeley Homes and exhibiting their work on the project in an exhibition next summer with a view to a permanent installation by the end of the year. They will research the original panel materials, visit other relevant sites in London and also take part in Proud Prospects workshops with Berkeley Homes.