One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest
Listed Status: Not listed
39 Balham High RoadTel: (020) 8673 1363
Email: devonshire@youngs.co.uk
Website https://www.devonshirebalham.co.uk/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/devonshirebalham
Real Ale: Yes
Real Cider: Yes
Lunchtime Meals: Yes
Evening Meals: Yes
Nearby Station: Balham
Station Distance: 550m
Public Transport: Near Railway Station (Balham) and Bus Stop
Bus: Yes
View on: Whatpub
A pub with copious amounts of etched and cut Victorian glasswork, and with a most attractive Victorian bar-back.
This is a substantial brick, corner-site pub, probably refitted in the late 1890s when, no doubt, the pink granite facing was fitted on the ground floor. There has been a great deal of opening out and replacement of fittings internally such as the modern bar counter in the rear section and the modern pewter-style bar top throughout but this pub is included here for the startling and prodigious amount of high quality glass.
Most notable is the row of etched and coloured mirrors lining the right hand wall of the front bar, and also highly noteworthy is the eight-bay bar-back in the rear saloon with pilasters and capitals picked out in gold, and with etched mirror glass. Both the doors to the main bar at the front and the vestibule entrance on the right have glazed panels.
In complete contrast to the mass of Victorian glazing is the inter-war glass in the front bar outside windows where pretty, coloured pieces are interspersed randomly in the rippled and otherwise plain panes, but are nonetheless attractive in a simplistic way. The bar counter in the front bar is probably late-Victorian and the dado fielded panelling looks old. You should also note the grid design of the ceilings throughout.
This is a substantial brick, corner-site pub, probably refitted in the late 1890s when, no doubt, the pink granite facing was fitted on the ground floor. There has been a great deal of opening out and replacement of fittings internally such as the modern bar counter in the rear section and the modern pewter-style bar top throughout but this pub is included here for the startling and impressive amount of high quality glass.
Most notable is the row of etched and coloured mirrors lining the blind wall of the front bar but close examination shows that some have cut scalloped edges, but others have the same design, but are not etched so may be modern copies. Equally impressive is the eight-bay bar-back in the rear saloon with pilasters and capitals picked out in gold and in particular the etched mirror glass.
There are doors with etched and coloured glass bearing the name ‘saloon’. In complete contrast is the inter-war glass in the front bar outside windows where pretty, coloured pieces are interspersed randomly in the rippled and plain panes. The bar counter in the front bar is probably late-Victorian and dado fielded panelling looks old. You should also note the grid design of the ceilings throughout.