Caroline Gardens or the Licensed Victuallers Benevolent Institution

Image: © Marathon Taken: 16 Nov 2011

Built from 1827 onwards, these were built as the Licensed Victuallers Benevolent Institution. It was a haven for the staff and families who, after a long and loyal service to the brewing industry, went to live out their days in dignity and grace, with the industry often helping them after they fell on hard times. Ian Nairn in 1966 described these as the most affable of London's many Grecian public buildings. He goes on to say "The scale is huge, but it never overpowers. Instead the big windows and wide stretches of yellow brick radiate serenity and tranquillity. It must be a good place to retire to; and there is a pub just across the road if you feel homesick." The Licensed Victuallers certainly built on the monumental scale as can be seen at their former school on Kennington Lane http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2706512 Further ranges were built in the mid-19th century. By 1960 the brewing industry decided that the complex no longer met their purpose, more because they needed to expand the site further and the scope was not there in the Asylum Road site. They moved to Denham in Buckinghamshire, and sold the buildings to Camberwell Council. The council made the decision to retain the site as residential units, and also decided to change the name from the Licensed Victuallers Asylum to Caroline Gardens, named after a former resident called Caroline Seeker. She was the former wife of a Royal Marine, James Seeker, who was said to be the man who caught Nelson after he was wounded at Trafalgar.

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