{{short description|Former fire station in the London Borough of Camden}} {{Use British English| date=October 2020}} {{Use dmy dates| date=October 2020}} {{Infobox building | name = Belsize Fire Station | image = File:Fire Station, Lancaster Grove and Eton Avenue, Swiss Cottage - geograph.org.uk - 38268.jpg | image_caption = Belsize Fire Station in 2005 | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_alt = | map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_mark = | former_names = | building_type = {{flatlist| * Former fire station * Flats}} | architectural_style = Arts and Crafts style | classification = Grade II* | location = Belsize Park, London Borough of Camden | location_city = London | location_country = United Kingdom | coordinates = {{coord|51.54534|-0.16610|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | construction_start_date = 1912 | material = Brick | status = Complete }}
'''Belsize Fire Station''' is a former fire station that is now used for private housing. Built between 1912 and 1915, it is a Grade II* listed building, and is situated in the London Borough of Camden. It is located at the junction between Eton Avenue and Lancaster Grove.
==History== Belsize Fire Station was designed by the architects Charles Winmill and Owen Fleming<ref name="HE">{{cite web| url= https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1379277| title= Belsize Fire Station| publisher=Historic England| accessdate=20 October 2020}}</ref> on behalf of London County Council,<ref name=AJ>{{cite magazine| url= https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/tate-harmer-converts-grade-ii-listed-former-fire-station-into-housing| title= Tate Harmer converts Grade II*-listed former fire station into housing| magazine=Architects' Journal| date=7 October 2020| accessdate=20 October 2020}}</ref> and built between 1912 and 1915 to replace a previous fire station in St John's Wood.<ref name=HE/> It is built in Arts and Crafts style,<ref name="AJ" /> in the style of an artist's studio.<ref name="EH">{{Cite web|last=English Heritage/London Fire Brigade|date=March 2010|title=London's historic fire stations|url=https://realla-media.freetls.fastly.net/uploads/listing/documents/original/5553_Historic-Fire-Stations.pdf.pdf?1510326676|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026070739/https://realla-media.freetls.fastly.net/uploads/listing/documents/original/5553_Historic-Fire-Stations.pdf.pdf?1510326676 |archive-date=26 October 2020 |access-date=|website=}}</ref> The building is made of brick with a flint roof,<ref name=HE/> and contains glazed brick arches.<ref>{{cite book| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=rXnLDgAAQBAJ&q=Belsize+Fire+Station| title= Fire Stations| last1=Reading| first1=Billy| publisher=Amberley Publishing| date=April 2017| isbn=9781445665832}}</ref> The original building contained one bedroom apartments used to house firefighters,<ref name=AJ/> as well as a recreation room and separate billiard room.<ref name="EH"/>
Belsize Fire Station covers an area of {{convert|0.44|acre|ft2}}.<ref name="HH">{{cite news| url= https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/mystery-over-secret-20m-plus-deal-to-buy-belsize-fire-station-building-1-4299724| title= Mystery over secret £20m-plus deal to buy Belsize Fire Station building| work=Hampstead & Highgate Express| date=6 November 2015| accessdate=20 October 2020}}</ref> In 1974 it became a Grade II* listed building.<ref name="HE" /> The Fire Station was in London Fire Brigade zone A, which went as far as Westminster and Hammersmith.<ref>{{cite book| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=i1OKA514iEsC| title= Hello Sunshine: A Blitz Kid's Journey to the Sunshine State| last1=Buch| first1=Chris| publisher=Xlibris| date=September 2011| page=119| isbn=9781462849888}}</ref> Fire crews from Belsize Fire Station were involved in the aftermath of the 1987 King's Cross fire, the 7 July 2005 London bombings, and a 2012 fire in the Taplow Block of flats.<ref name="HH14">{{cite news| url= https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/a-history-of-belsize-fire-station-1915-2014-1-3187951| title=A history of Belsize Fire Station: 1915-2014| work=Hampstead & Highgate Express| date=9 January 2014| accessdate=20 October 2020}}</ref>
The fire station was closed in 2014;<ref name="AJ" /> it was one of nine fire stations in Greater London closed in that year due to budget cuts.<ref name="CMJ">{{cite news |url=https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/developers-abandon-social-housing-part-of-belsize-fire-station-conversion| title= Developers abandon social housing part of Belsize Fire Station conversion| work=Camden New Journal| date=29 February 2020| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230327215029/https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/developers-abandon-social-housing-part-of-belsize-fire-station-conversion| accessdate=20 October 2020| archive-date= 27 March 2023}}</ref> In 2015, the building was sold for £20 million to an unknown buyer.<ref name="HH" /> In 2017, planning permission was given to convert Belsize Fire Station into 18 private flats, two of which had to be used for social housing.<ref name="AJ" /><ref name="CMJ" /><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.ft.com/content/728b658c-285d-11e8-9274-2b13fccdc744| title= Belsize Park sellers cut house prices to make a sale| work=Financial Times| date=21 March 2018| accessdate=20 October 2020}}</ref> The social housing requirement was abandoned in 2020, and the building is now used for energy-efficient luxury flats.<ref name="AJ" /><ref name="CMJ" /> The price of the flats ranged from £750,000 to £1.7 million.<ref name="CMJ" />
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:1915 establishments in England Category:Fire stations completed in 1915 Category:Defunct fire stations in the United Kingdom Category:Arts and Crafts architecture in London Category:Grade II* listed buildings in the London Borough of Camden Category:Grade II* listed houses in London Category:Grade II* listed fire stations Category:Belsize Park Category:Swiss Cottage