Royal Victoria Patriotic Building - SW18

Whilst I'm in gothic revival mode (I feel like I should be wearing eyeliner and listening to Sisters of Mercy) it seems appropriate to blog about another architectural gem - the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building.  Built in the mid 1800s as an orphanage for children of Crimean War veterans, the building was subsequently used as a 1st World War soldiers' hospital, an interrogation centre for German spies in the 2nd World War, a teachers' training college and a school, before lying derelict for years.  Finally offered for sale for £1 but requiring the purchaser to undertake millions of pounds worth of repairs and restoration, the building was transformed into a unique combination of apartments, studios and workspaces and a restaurant and bar.  The other half and I were lucky enough to live here around 5 years ago and it was amazing to move into a building like this one.  Slightly spooky I must say - there are all sorts of ghost stories associated with the place (not surprising given its history) and there were times, walking around the corridors of the main building at night that the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.  The building contains two lovely courtyards; the nicest has two fish ponds with fat, colourful goldfish in them.  Our apartment, which had an amazing vaulted living area and the original church-like windows, overlooked the other courtyard which led off the restaurant and bar (called Le Gothique).  This wasn't necessarily ideal as anyone who lives above or next to a restaurant or bar will tell you - but it was kind of handy to be able to be able to buy ready made jugs of Pimms in the summer.  When the building was first renovated some of the early residents were 80s pop-tastic, supposedly a Duran Duranite and also the male half of the Thompson Twins (who still lives there) and there is still a bit of a decadent vibe going on, or at least there was in our part of the building.  Again that was not necessarily a plus for us - as we both had jobs that required us to be up and at it early during the week and there were regular Tuesday night 4am benders going on at our neighbour's place.  Sleepless nights aside, we really liked living at the RVPB - if you ever get the chance, have a look inside at the main hall with its heraldic painted ceiling, it's amazing.  Perched on the edge of Wandsworth Common, this building is a landmark to SW residents but largely unknown to the rest of London - it's definitely worth a visit and you can get a Pimms buzz up afterwards at le Gothique and then go and wander round lovely Wandsworth Common.  Go on - get your gothic on.