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South London Gallery Fire Station. Photo: Andy Stagg

The South London Gallery (SLG) opened the former Peckham Road Fire Station as a new contemporary arts space and annexe to the main site in 2018.

The Grade II listed building at 82 Peckham Road dates from 1867 and is the earliest surviving example of a purpose-built fire station in London. Find out more about the history of the Fire Station here.

Designed by award-winning 6a architects, the Fire Station is a mixed-use building over four floors, maintaining the original layout of rooms as far as possible. The new building provides gallery spaces, artists’ studio, kitchen and terrace, combined with community and education facilities.

The thought given to detail is exceptional

Rowan Moore, The Observer

The Fire Station doubles the size of the South London Gallery, transforming the ways in which we can support and profile the work of British and international artists. With this new venue, the SLG is able to take a more ambitious and experimental approach to programming than ever before, furthering our reputation for bringing new work by internationally acclaimed and lesser known artists to an area of London with a fascinating local history.

On the top floor, a new education space has enabled the gallery to expand its innovative arts programme in the local area. The SLG’s extensive archive of its 127 year history, in addition to material relating to the social, architectural and cultural history of the local area, is now available to the public digitally on the ground floor.

The building has been superbly, sensitively restored.

Laura Freeman, The Sunday Times Culture

The Fire Station is located 100 metres away from the SLG’s main site, adjacent to Pelican estate and opposite Oliver Goldsmith Primary School and Sceaux Gardens estate.

The Fire Station was donated to the South London Gallery in 2014 by artist Raqib Shaw, who chose to remain anonymous when the building opened to the public in 2018. Following extensive planning and community consultation we started building work in March 2017 and the building opened to the public on 22 September 2018. Over this period we have raised £3.85m towards the £4m project including major support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Mayor of London and Arts Council England.

If you would like to receive updates and news about the SLG’s exhibitions, events and education projects, you can sign up to our mailing list here.

With thanks to all of our supporters.