Charles Brooking
Major rescue at Chelsea Police
Station and taking rescued items
home on the Underground!
Charles Brooking is a fascinating and knowledgeable collector of architectural detail, The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail, and as Surveyors we find his lifelong quest to collect British building details unique, informative and valuable and a collection that must be kept intact for years to come. If you need help and advice with regard to building surveys, structural surveys, structural reports, engineers reports, specific defects report, dilapidations or any other property matters please free phone 0800 298 5424.
The following is one of a series of interviews with Charles Brooking, Historic and Listed Buildings Detail Expert, The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail and a Surveyor where we have recorded his comments and various aspects that have affected windows and doors and other collectibles. The interviews outl
ine how his collection started and built over the years and gives an insight into the amazing architectural features housed in his fine collection.
Surveyor: Did you take rescued architectural details home on the underground?
Charles Brooking: Yes, as I was still not able to drive I travelled on the tube with my rescued items; it was blue murder. It built my muscles up but it wasn't easy. If I had a car I would have rescued so much more. Chelsea Police Station which was built in about 1850-55 with a typical rather robust front with arched windows in the ground floor, yellow stock brick and raised window surrounds was another site I made rescues from. Chelsea Police Station was demolished in the early 1980s and adjoining that was an extension possibly by Butler of about 1903 with Givens sash pulleys. I also managed to retrieve prison windows which were quite dramatic. I think they were made in Chelsea interestingly enough and of course Haig the murderer was actually incarcerated there for a time, so it had a bit of interest.
Commercial Street Police Station built in 1878 was another major rescue site I have got a prison door and other things where they actually held Jack the Ripper suspects in the 1890's.
Rescue defined
Charles Brooking defines a rescue as saving a window or door or staircase that would be doomed.
Charles Brooking was a pioneer in the rescue of architectural detailing as many years ago it was very much considered a strange and an unusual past time to want to rescue old parts of buildings with everything new and shiny being so important.
Surveyor: Is that still in your collection?
Charles Brooking : No, sadly I was talked into selling that to the London Museum in the mid 1980s, which was a bit of a shame but I needed the money and of course I had problems with space which made me make some unfortunate decisions in the 80's and 90's, and 70's even, for space.
Surveyor: Space is always key to any collection.
Charles Brooking : Yes, the luxury of space to show the collection at its best and to keep it in an accessible area so others can enjoy the pieces and learn from the examples is a challenge.
Buying a property at auction
Building surveys or structural surveys
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Major rescue at Warren Street, London W1
References: TheBrookingCollection.com DartfordArchive.org.uk IHBC.org.uk ProjectBook.co.ukIndependent Surveyors
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