SDO20809 - Former Police Station, Madeira Road, Bournemouth. Historic Building Record

'Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Kier Construction (Southern) to produce a historic building record of the former Police Station on the south side of Madeira Road, Bournemouth, Dorset centred on National Grid Reference 409425, 091555. The building lies within the proposed development site of Livingstone Academy on land at Madeira Road and Stafford Road. A planning application (ref: 7-2018-8363-G) and application for Listed Building Consent (ref: 7-2018-5090-L) are currently under consideration for the redevelopment of the site. The proposal involves the demolition of the former Police Station and this historic building record was required in response to draft planning conditions issued by the Local Planning Authority (Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council (BCPC). The former Police Station is a purpose-built Police Headquarters and divisional station designed by borough architect John Burton and opened in September 1956. The building predominantly dates to the 1950s but retains and incorporates the cell block from an earlier police station which opened in 1869 on the same site. It also includes some 1970s and 1980s extensions and alterations. The two cell blocks to the rear of the building were constructed circa 1923-33 and 1974-78 and there is possibly a remnant of 1890s phase fabric at lower ground level. A previously external wall is fossilised within the building. The former Police Station is a five-storey (lower-ground to third floor) irregular plan building. The main range is constructed of Bedford grey facing bricks on a Portland stone plinth and has a hipped roof clad in pantiles. The early 20th century (eastern) cell block is a two-storey, flat roofed red brick structure and the 1970s western cell block 1980s custody block are flat-roofed extensions constructed in modern brickwork. The main range primarily comprises standard non-descript offices, some of which have been knocked through to create larger spaces. The oak-panelled Chief Constable’s office is located on the first floor. The main foyer for enquiries and three of five interview rooms are located on the ground floor with kitchen, canteen and officers’ mess on the second floor. The custody and detention areas occupy the west corner of the building and include an exercise yard at lower ground floor level. There is separate controlled access to these areas at the rear of the station. The glazed brick-lined cells survive in good condition and are evocative of when the station was in use. Conversely, the majority of office fixtures and fittings have been removed so the specific function/location of various units and teams is difficult to identify. Period boiler and lift plant were identified and recorded in-situ. This historic building record comprises a Level 3 (analytical) record of the former Police Station. Research sources at the Bournemouth Library, Dorset Police Archive, BCPC archives and online were consulted to better understand the history and development of the site. The Site work was carried out on the 1st-2nd July 2019 during which a photographic survey and metric survey (involving amendments to existing floorplan and elevation data) were carried out and used to inform, provide supporting evidence and illustrate the historic building record.'