John Innes Elliott FRSA (13 November 1912 – 3 December 1989) was a British architect who, for twenty-seven years, was the Chief Architect and Surveyor to the Metropolitan Police in London. He held the post from 1947 until his retirement in 1974. He was the seventh architect to hold the post since its inception in 1842. He took over the role from Gilbert Mackenzie Trench, who retired in 1945. Elliott's designs were carried out in the brutalist style.
Life and career Born in Liverpool, Elliott trained at the Liverpool School of Architecture between 1930 and 1935, where he was tutored by Lionel Bailey Budden and Charles Herbert Reilly. Elliott gained employment as an architectural assistant to a travel company in Wallasey,"A Pioneer Wireless comedian found dead", Liverpool Daily Post, 15 May 1934, p. 10. which he coincided with his studies. In the late 1930s he worked for the Office of Works in the branch for Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings. During the war he assisted in the design of post-war housing. In the 1940s he moved to London where he was appointed the surveyor to the Metropolitan Police in 1947, after the retirement of Gilbert Mackenzie Trench two years previously.
Elliott was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1974 New Year Honours list and retired later that year, having completed his designs for the buildings within Hendon Police College, Colindale."Another honour for Lord Cohen Who’s who in the New Year honours list", Liverpool Daily Post, 2 January 1974, p.6.
Partial list of buildings NamePhotograph OpenedNotesBrixton Police Station1953Open and operational."An exterior view of Brixton Police Station showing the newly built extension on Gresham Road", Historic England, accessed 14 April 2024.Acton Police StationOpen and operational Albany Street Police Station1960Closed to the public in 2013.Whetstone Police Station1960Closed to the public in 2013. Now a school.Shoreditch Police Station19614-6 Shepherdess Walk, London Borough of Hackney. Built on the site of a former police station, designed by John Dixon Butler in 1901. As of 2026 the building is still in use by tbe police. Holborn Police Station1962Still in use.Greenwich Police Station, 31 Royal Hill, Greenwich. 1962Closed to the public in 2018. Remains operational.Chadwell Heath Police Station1962Closed and sold. Made a religious building in 2014."‘Unique’ Islamic centre run by women to open at former Chadwell Heath police station", Barking & Dagenham Post, 23 July 2014. Accessed 12 March 2026.Lavender Hill Police Station and Magistrates Court,176 Lavender Hill, Battersea."Public Buildings", University College London, p. 67.1963Operational Holloway Police Station, 284 Hornsey Road, Islington. 1965Closed and sold in 2017.Enfield Police Station, London Road, Enfield 1965Remains in operation, as of 2024.Croydon Police Station1967Operational Brentford Police Station1967Closed to the public in 2013.Finchley Police Station, 193 Ballards Lane, Finchley, London Borough of Barnet1967Sold in 2014 for redevelopment. Now flats."Former Finchley police station to be converted into apartments following £6.2m acquisition", Barnet Daily, 13 June 2017Woodford Police Station1968Closed to the public in 2013.West Ham Police Station1969Closed to the public in 2019.Ponders End Police Station1969Sold in 2012, demolished and developed into housing."The redevelopment of an old Ponders End Police station has begun", Enfield Independent, 27 November 2013, accessed 14 July 2024.Stratford Police Station, West Ham Lane1969Southgate Police Station, 59 Crown Lane, Southgate1970Closed in 2014. Redevelopment into flats considered in 2024."Plan to convert former police station into hostel prompt local concerns", Enfield Dispatch, 15 July 2024.Paddington Green Police Station1971Leman Street Police Station1971Closed to the public in 2017, although still operational.Chiswick Police Station1972Closed to the public in 2017.Hendon Police College1974Buildings on the site include the Peel buildings, tower blocks, and traffic garage and driving school. Demolished 2013-14.Southall Police Station, 1 North Road, Southall. 1975Designed in 1974/5 by Brewer Smith Brewer Group (BSBG), in association with Innes Elliott. Built by Miller Buckley Construction. Work commenced in 1973. Completed in 1975. Opened by Sir Robert Mark in December 1976. Closed to the public in 2017, but remains operational.
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