A twentieth-century Quaker meeting house in Blackheath has been awarded Grade II listed status.

The Blackheath Meeting House was built in 1971 and the main structure is made from reinforced concrete.

Its focus is the first-floor meeting room lit from above by a square-shaped lantern and is designed as a calm space with a softer aesthetic - white plastered walls and a ceiling lined with warm redwood – than the rest of the building which uses bare brick, concrete and quarry tile.

It was designed by Trevor Dannatt, now 99 years old, who is an influential architect who worked on the 1951 Royal Festival Hall early in his career.

The listings are part of Historic England's work to improve understanding, recording and protection of places of worship.

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In partnership with the Religious Society of Friends, the formal title for Quakers in Britain, Historic England commissioned a national survey of meeting houses still in use or in Quaker ownership to build up a detailed picture of these buildings across the country – their origins, architectural features and place in the community.

While many older Quaker meeting houses are already listed, the survey findings have been used to update and enhance these entries on the National Heritage List for England as well as identify important meeting houses previously overlooked.

These important buildings express the changing practices of Quakers through history and their reception by and presence in the local community.

Heritage Minister Michael Ellis, said: “Britain’s buildings tell the story of our history and the people who shaped it. By listing the Quaker Meeting Houses, we are preserving important places of worship and celebrating their rich heritage.”

Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s Chief Executive, said: “Quaker meeting houses are precious pockets of calm in an otherwise hectic world, and I’m delighted to see their quiet simplicity celebrated through listing.

"They are a largely unsung group of fascinating and surprisingly varied buildings that reflect the history, attitudes and ethos of the Quaker movement.

"While many still serve their Quaker communities, their historic charm and flexible spaces are also enjoyed by lots of other groups, visitors and passers-by and they deserve to be protected for future generations.”