There are almost one hundred listed structures in that part of Dulwich which is situated in the Borough of Southwark, others, in Lambeth include the Grade 1 listed but derelict All Saint's Church, Rosendale Road by G.H. Fellowes Prynne. Dulwich also has six starred Grade 2 buildings. These are St Paul's Church, Herne Hill (G.E. Street); Bell House, College Road; Dulwich College (C. Barry Jnr); Six Pillars, Crescent Wood Road ( A.H. Harding, Tecton Partnership), Dulwich Picture Gallery (Sir John Soane) and The Half Moon P.H., Herne Hill.
The object of listing is to record and preserve those structures that contribute to the national heritage. Not all the items listed are what might be conventionally thought of as beautiful or attractive - some are included for their historical value. Thus we find that the red telephone boxes in the Village and at North Dulwich Station are included (1935 K6 type designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and inspired by the lantern on the Mausoleum at the Dulwich Picture Gallery ), together with the two surviving milestones, and some of the gravestones in the Old Burial Ground.
Every owner of a listed structure should receive notification of such inclusion from the local council. The latest national survey was commenced in 1970 and was completed in 1998. Every part of England was visited by expert field workers and supervised by English Heritage. Lists are available for inspection at local authority offices. The main criteria applied in deciding which buildings to include in the statutory lists are:-
architectural interest: all buildings which are of importance to the nation for the interest of their architectural design, decoration and craftsmanship; also important examples of particular building types and techniques.
historical interest: this includes buildings which display important aspects of the nation's social, economic cultural or military history.
group value, especially where buildings comprise together an important architectural or historical unity or a fine example of planning (e.g. squares, terraces or model villages)
Age and rarity are important considerations. The older a building is, and the fewer the surviving examples of its kind, the more likely it is have historical importance. All buildings erected before 1700 which survive in anything like their original condition are listed; as are most buildings of about 1700-1840 . After 1840, because of the greatly increased number of buildings erected and the much larger number that have survived, greater selection is necessary to identify the best examples of particular building types, and only buildings of definite quality and character are listed. Buildings less than thirty years old are normally only listed if they are of outstanding quality and under threat. Buildings which are less than ten years old are not listed.
Effect of listing
If an owner wishes to demolish, alter or extend a listed building then a 'listed building consent' must be applied for from the local authority. Even relatively minor works such as repainting may affect the character of a listed building and consent is required. It is a criminal offence to demolish, alter or extend such a building in a way which would affect its character, without consent, and the penalties for this can be heavy. It is possible to obtain grants for repair to buildings of outstanding architectural or historic interest.
If you own listed property and fail to maintain it properly, you will in the first instance be reminded of your duties by the local authority. If the property continues to be neglected the local authority may serve a repairs notice on you, specifying the works to be done. If the owner fails to comply with the notice, the Council can compulsorily acquire the property.
Buildings are listed in their entirety; there is no such thing as just a listed façade or interior. But some parts of a listed building (interior as well as exterior) may be more important than others, and this could be significant if you are thinking of applying for listed building consent for partial demolition or alteration. In addition, any object or structure fixed to a listed building is treated as part of the building.
Dulwich's listed buildings
Among the more unusual listings are two sculptures, Striding Man by Oliffe Richmond (1919-77) is to be found in the grounds of The Charter School, while at Kingsdale School there is William Turnbull's 1959 Stargazer.
The memorial fountain to Dr George Webster is listed, as are the lodges and Old College gates of Dulwich Park. The Old Library at Dulwich College, built as a memorial to those Old Boys who fell in the Boer War, all the houses at Pond Cottages (some soon to undergo renovation and alteration), are also included. The few Victorian examples include - St John's Wood House, College Road, and the DCPS boarding house - Brightlands, in Gallery Road both of which are Grade 2. Among the listed tombs in the Old Burial Ground is that of Louisa Schroeder (d. 1824), an ancestor of Gerhard Schroder, the German Chancellor.
Locals will, on the one hand, be relieved to learn that the Crown & Greyhound is listed but distressed to find that, despite its Arts & Crafts Movement style, St Barnabas Parish Hall is not. St Peter's Church Hall Dulwich Common is listed and the present owners, the Deeper Life Christian Church are under notice by Southwark Council to restore the building to its original appearance, their attention being drawn to the case by a correspondent writing in the Dulwich Society Newsletter.