Shrewsbury House Community Centre


Type: Community
Client:  Shrewsbury House Community Centre
Location: South East London
Status: On going




Shrewsbury House went from being a residence for Princess Charlotte under the lease of the Prince Regent (later King George IV), to being demolished and transformed under the ownership of Fred Halse.

Becoming X have been involved in helping the Shrewsbury House Community Centre document and publish the unique history of this site and its amazing history as a community Asset in South East London.

The original house was built in the late C18th and named for the Earl of Shrewsbury.
It seems to have been designed as a high status rural retreat, but close to the heart of Government and commerce in London.





Shrewsbury House was leased by the Prince Regent (later King George IV) for his daughter, Princess Charlotte. She frequently spent her summer months there, allowing her to visit her mother, Queen Caroline, who resided in Blackheath.

From 1893  the original Shrewsbury house was in use as a Home for Children. The image above from 1913 shows the children from the associated Open Air School in a woodland class room at Shrewsbury Park.


In 1916, the house was purchased by Fred Halse, a local councillor, builder, property developer, motor engine dealer, billiard hall owner, and racehorse owner. He demolished the original building in 1923 to construct a new family home. Like many other businesses Fred Hulse is believed to have got into financial difficulties in the 1930’s leading to the land being divided. The house, along with one acre of land, was sold to the Council, while the remaining land was sold to Laings builders and housing developers.
Shrewsbury house and the surrounding garden was heavily used during the Second World War as the Woolwich ARP control centre.

During the war a modern hardened building was built in the grounds which was later converted into a family home.

During the Cold War a further control centre designed to protect local officials in the event of nuclear, chemical or biological attack was added next to the Second World War bunker. Shrewsbury House retained a Civil Defense role until 1968 when the control bunker was decommissioned and the site became purely a community centre.  

Community Centre Since 1968 Shrewsbury House has served the local area as a Community Centre.  Post war activities included hosting a mobile library shown here in the 1950’s.




Images courtesy Historic England and the Royal Borough of Greenwich Archive Shrewsbury House sits in the heart of the local community and hosts a wide variety of community functions including a radio station, dance classes, baby & elderly activities, fitness classes, art classes, first aid training and much more.
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Reg: 11195409