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Created 23-Feb-16
94 photos

Martin House stands on the site of Blackheath Literary Institute, just by the side of the Railway station.

The Blackheath Literary Institution was built by public subscription in 1845, behind Nos 3-9 Tranquil Vale. Despite the enthusiasm for the venture, it was very small as an auditorium and failed within 20 years.

By 1958 the building had been bought, probably by Whittaker at No 5-7 Tranquil Vale. The rooms were kept as a newpspaper reading room and lecture hall until the mid 1860s. Although much altered over the years, it remained part of the workshop premises of No 5 & 7 Tranquil Vale until the mid 1940 when it was damaged by a bomb blast.

The shell of the building was bought by the Blackheath Preservation Trust in 1952 and eventually was rebuilt in 1975, retaining some of the original walls and shape.

The current building is named after AR Martin, who died in 1974 but who contributed so much to Blackheath life, being a founder member of the Blackheath Society and the Blackheath Preservation Trust.

Upon his death, he bequeathed his personal archive - a huge collection - to the Greenwich Heritage Centre.
1940s BHTrans0452008935 Blackheath Literary Institution, Tranqul Vale, No 1000119 Martin House, Tranqul Vale, No 1000120 Martin House000121 Martin House000122 Martin House000123 Martin House000124 Martin House, Tranqul Vale, No 1000125 Martin House000127 Martin House, Tranqul Vale, No 1000128 Martin House000129 Martin House, Tranqul Vale, No 1000130 Martin House, Tranqul Vale, No 1000131 Martin House-2000132 Martin House000133 Martin House000134 Martin House, Tranqul Vale, No 1000135 Martin House000136 Martin House000137 Martin House, Tranqul Vale, No 1

Categories & Keywords
Category:Architecture and Structures
Subcategory:Buildings
Subcategory Detail:
Keywords:1 Tranquil Vale, AR, Greenwich Heritage Centre, Hinds, Martin, Martin, Martin House, No 1 Tranquil Vale