Mycenae House

Mycenae House is a community centre and local events venue in the Westcombe Park area of Greenwich, south-east London. It occupies a former convent building beside Woodlands House, a Georgian villa on Mycenae Road. The site is associated with Mycenae Gardens and The Dell, public open spaces that extend the venue’s community role beyond the building itself. The history of the site is connected with the Little Sisters of the Assumption, a Catholic novitiate order that acquired Woodlands House and surrounding land after the First World War. Part of the land was sold to help finance a purpose-built novitiate house, which opened in 1933. After the order moved to Paddington in 1967, the London Borough of Greenwich acquired the buildings and grounds. The former novitiate house was subsequently adapted for community use and was initially known as Kidbrooke House. Management passed to the Vanbrugh Community Association in 1994, at which point the building was renamed Mycenae House. The venue developed as a locally oriented centre for meetings, cultural activity, education and civic events. Its uses include concerts, political hustings, music classes and gatherings of clubs and societies. Examples of groups associated with the venue include the Blackheath Scientific Society, Charlton Chess Club, the Woodcraft Folk and the Woolwich Photographic Society. During the early 2000s, Greenwich Council explored ways to secure funding for the upkeep of Woodlands House and Mycenae House. In 2007, Woodlands House and a strip of land on the southern and south-western part of the grounds were leased on a long-term basis to Greenwich Steiner School. Development of flats on part of the land helped fund the lease arrangement and the renovation of Woodlands House. Today, Mycenae House functions primarily as a community facility rather than as a commercial consumer brand. Its offer centres on accessible rooms, activities, performances, classes, meetings and local-organisational events. Mycenae Gardens, maintained as public open space by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and the nearby Dell provide additional outdoor settings used by local organisations and the Steiner School. Together, the buildings and surrounding spaces form a neighbourhood resource serving Greenwich residents and community groups.

Mycenae House occupies a former convent building beside Woodlands House in Mycenae Road, Westcombe Park. The wider estate was acquired after the First World War by the Little Sisters of the Assumption, a Catholic novitiate order. The sale of part of the land helped fund the construction of a new novitiate house, which opened in 1933. The religious community left the site for Paddington in 1967. The London Borough of Greenwich then purchased the properties and grounds. The former novitiate house was converted to community use and became known as Kidbrooke House. That name referred to a public building that had been demolished during road construction associated with the Sun in the Sands roundabout and the southern approach to the Blackwall Tunnel. In 1994, responsibility for managing the building transferred to the Vanbrugh Community Association. The building was renamed Mycenae House under the association’s management. It subsequently became a venue for community activities, performances, educational sessions, public meetings and the regular activities of local clubs and societies. In the early 2000s, Greenwich Council sought new funding arrangements to maintain both Woodlands House and Mycenae House. In 2007, Woodlands House and a strip of land at the southern and south-western edge of the grounds were leased on a long-term basis to Greenwich Steiner School. Flat development on part of the land contributed to financing the lease purchase and the renovation of Woodlands House. The site’s outdoor spaces are also part of its community significance. Mycenae Gardens and the adjacent Dell are public open spaces owned and maintained by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The Gardens are characterised by lawns and a small wooded area, while The Dell has a more natural, overgrown character with brambles and ivy-covered London Plane trees. Local organisations use the spaces for events, and The Dell is also used informally by dog walkers. Mycenae House remains a neighbourhood venue for concerts, political hustings, classes, meetings and the activities of community groups. The building, gardens and Dell together provide a combination of indoor facilities and publicly accessible outdoor space in the Greenwich area.

• 2007

  Long-term lease supports estate funding

  [1]Mycenae Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Woodlands House and part of the surrounding land were leased to Greenwich Steiner School. Development of flats on part of the land helped fund the arrangement and renovation work at Woodlands House.

• 1994

  Community association takes over management

  [1]Mycenae Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Management of the former novitiate building passed to the Vanbrugh Community Association, and the building adopted the name Mycenae House.

• 1967

  Site acquired by Greenwich Council

  [1]Mycenae Houseen.wikipedia.org

  After the Little Sisters of the Assumption moved to Paddington, the London Borough of Greenwich purchased the properties and grounds.

• 1933

  Novitiate house opens

  [1]Mycenae Houseen.wikipedia.org

  A purpose-built novitiate house was completed on the estate after the Little Sisters of the Assumption acquired Woodlands House and surrounding land.

A locally focused, multi-purpose community centre and cultural venue serving residents, voluntary organisations, clubs, societies and educational groups in Greenwich and surrounding areas.

• Community centre

  Community venue and meeting facilities

  Mycenae House provides indoor space for meetings, clubs, societies, educational activities, performances and other local gatherings. Its role is centred on hosting community organisations and activities rather than selling a standardized product line.

• Public open space

  Mycenae Gardens and The Dell

  The gardens and adjacent Dell form the outdoor setting associated with Mycenae House. They are public open spaces maintained by the Royal Borough of Greenwich and are used for community events, informal recreation and access between surrounding streets and the site.

• 2007

  Lease and redevelopment arrangement for the estateStrategy

  Background

  Greenwich Council sought funding to maintain Woodlands House and Mycenae House during the early 2000s.

  Action taken

  Woodlands House and a strip of land on the southern and south-western part of the grounds were placed on a long-term lease to Greenwich Steiner School, with flat development helping support the lease purchase and renovation of Woodlands House.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement provided a funding mechanism for improvements to the adjoining historic property while Mycenae House continued as a community facility.

  Source

• 1994

  Transfer to community managementStrategy

  Background

  Following the building’s use as a community centre under the name Kidbrooke House, management responsibility was transferred from the council to the Vanbrugh Community Association.

  Action taken

  The association assumed management and renamed the building Mycenae House.

  Aftermath

  The site continued as a locally managed venue for cultural, educational, civic and community activities.

  Source

1. 1Mycenae Houseen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Mycenae House official websitemycenaehouse.co.uk