Art Deco reliefs… – Ebb & Flow

…discreet jewels on the facade of No. 8 Albert Embankment.

View of 8 Albert Embankment behind the Lambeth River Fire Station.

From the steps of Victoria Gardens South, 8 Albert Embankment, the London Fire Brigade’s previous headquarters, seems lost among the surrounding buildings but as you draw closer you can see that the facade is made up of neat, restrained brickwork decorated with stylish reliefs and mosaics running down its centre.

The top of 8 Albert Embankment with the London County Council emblem carved in stone by F. P. Morton, half hidden by scaffolding as the building awaits planning permission for its restoration and redevelopment.

Detail of brickwork pattern on the balcony in the centre of the building below the L.C.C. emblem..

A Grade II building, Listed in December 2002, No. 8 Albert Embankment, is described by Heritage England “as of special architectural interest – a well composed and externally unaltered 1930s building which, while in the streamlined Moderne idiom, upholds the Arts and Crafts ideal of collaboration between architecture and sculpture.”
It was designed by London County Council architects E. P. Wheeler and assistant architect G. Weald, and three leading sculptors of the day – Gilbert Bayes, Stanley Nicholson Babb, and F. P. Morton – were awarded commissions to create sculptured reliefs to decorate the building and the Thames-facing facade. Bayes’ contribution included the three reliefs running down the centre of the building from the third to the first floor. Above them, only partially visible at the moment, is a “sculptural relief of the London County Council’s coat of arms, executed in stone and coloured mosaic by F. P. Morton”.

At fourth floor level, a flame-breathing griffin by Gilbert Bayes.

Reliefs and mosaics by Gilbert Bayes on the third and second floor levels: Phoebus driving his chariot with sun rays in the background, and below, two mermen quenching a fire with hoses.

At third floor level, Phoebus, the sun god driving his chariot, by Gilbert Bayes.

At second floor level, two mermen with hoses quenching a fire, by Gilbert Bayes.

Half hidden by scaffolding, supporting the lamp above, one of the two carved galleons, embellished by mosaics at first floor level.

An almost complete picture of the stylised carved galleon. ©manchesterhistory

Fire-fighters in action, carved by Stanley Nicholson Babb.

Fire rescue, carved by Stanley Nicholson Babb.

Art Deco details on the ground floor fire station doors.

In 2021 the Secretary of State refused planning permission for existing proposals for the development of No. 8 Albert Embankment, and the timings and details of a revised project are still the subject of negotiation. In reply to a question in the London Assembly, the Mayor answered: “As of October 2022, the London Fire Brigade do not expect a planning application on the building to be made before July 2023.”, adding that consultation with “stakeholders and community members will take place before any planning application is submitted.” Measures, including the erection of scaffolding in places, have been taken to protect the building in the meantime.

While the future of 8 Albert Embankment is being worked out, the building is still in use and known as the Lambeth Fire Station, occupying the ground, first and second floors. Below them floating on the Thames is the Lambeth River Station with its fire rescue boats ready to go into action at any time..

Hopefully the fine Art Deco embellishments will be expertly restored and preserved when work on 8 Albert Embankment is eventually undertaken.

Sources and further information
London Fire Brigade: 8 Albert Embankment
Article in The New Wipers Times ‘Lambeth Fire Station, London, S.E.1, 4th December, 2019
London Fire Brigade’s History of Lambeth River Station
Further images can be seen at Manchester History
Retired London Fireman’s article on The (Lambeth) Headquarters of the London Fire Brigade 1937 – 2007.
Sculptor Gilbert Bayes
Sculptor Stanley Nicholson Babb
London Assembly latest information on the future of 8 Albert Embankment.
All images, unless otherwise marked, ©Patricia Stoughton