Hayles Buildings (London)

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Built at the beginning of the 20th century, Hayles Buildings are artizans' dwellings that line the east side of Elliott’s Row near the Elephant and Castle. They were built in two different phases in two very distinct styles. The foundation stone for the building to the north was laid in 1891 and the five storey high block is constructed mostly from yellow brick. It has an imposing front elevation with little decoration. The foundation stone to the block at the south end of Elliott’s Row was laid in 1902 and this block is generally more attractive. Built with a mix of yellow and red brick, it is only four storeys high with a front elevation broken up with square bays, balconies and some arts and crafts style decoration.

The blocks were built by the Hayles Charity which today is part of the Walcot Foundation based in Lambeth. Its origins go back to the mid seventeenth century when St Mary’s Church in Lambeth had acquired a surplus of £300 and it was decided to use this surplus to help the poor of the parish. Six acres of land in St George’s Fields, just over the parish boundary within the parish of St George the Martyr, was purchased in 1671 from Robert Hayle, a haberdasher and citizen of London, and his wife Ann. At that time, the land was just an open field.

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Hayles Buildings, Elliotts Row, London SE11 4TD