About Us
Seniors House
Historical Background
We are based at 260 Stanstead Road, Forest Hill in a beautiful Grade II listed large house.
The building was originally a private dwelling owned by the Gardiner family who bequeathed it to the
Darby and Joan Clubin 1949 when it was officially opened by Queen Mary.
Between the years 1949-2002 the building fell into an extreme state of disrepair to the point where it was sold to the charity Lewisham Elders Resource Centre (SENIORS) who began its restoration and refurbishments in 2002. Part of the condition of sale was that the building was to be used to 'meet the needs of modern urban older and elderly people' in perpetuity.
Building works to the outer fabric of the building have included extensive underpinning, new roofing and restoration of the conservatory. These works were completed with generous funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund,The Henry Smith Charity,Heritage for London Trustand project partners The London Borough of Lewisham.
This building is at a stage whereby it can be hired out as a community venue although it is not yet at its anticipated potential. The hire charges shown in the Room Hire web page reflect this and are as such fixed until the end of 2011.
Beyond this date, we anticipate that the building will be fully marketable as a 'Beautiful Grade II listed large house. situated on the easily accessible South Circular.' The
Hire Charges will then be changed to reflect this.
Bookings taken during 2011 will be on the basis that the interior presentation is a work in progress and in benefitting from continual improvement.