Norbury

   This post is not finished it is not edited or checked


Pollard's Hill

Pollards Hill is an area of high ground to the south of Streatham, situated to the west of the London Road on the outskirts of the present-day Norbury. Prior to Victorian development of the area Pollards Hill was an eerie and remote place. It is the highest spot in the area providing commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Originally it formed part of the great North Wood, vestiges of which remained at the summit of the hill as recently as the 1890s and was known as Pollards Hill Wood. Even in the 1880s the area was still considered to be remote and few people ventured into the Wood.

Low rise housing by the Borough architect. Strikingly humane. LB Merton. Application of Cambridge School of Architecture into Fresnel Square. Rationalism of London squares. Density of 250 people hectare in three storey houses and public space but rigid and indivisible, emptiness of central space   Prime example of Perimeter planning.  1968-71 by the Borough Architect's Department. At.Kitchen project architect, with R. McCormack, P. Bell, D.Lea, N. Alexander. A locus classicus of the high-density, low-rise housing that began to be developed in the 1960s as an alternative to the high-rise schemes of the previous decade. A brilliantly concise layout of three-storey houses and flats in an ingenious rectilinear Greek-key meander around the edges of the 41-acre site - a development from Sir Leslie Martin and Lionel March's theories of perimeter planning. Three types of open space are provided: tiny private backyards, small grassy squares partly enclosed by the inner sides of each meander, and a park. On this side a library and community centre. The outer sides of the terraces have integral garages and face rather monotonous garage courts. The single- aspect flats at the corners also have disadvantages. But the total impression is strikingly humane in comparison with so much other housing of the same period, and ten years later, there were few overt signs of dissatisfaction. The pristine appearance is due to the crisp contrast between the dark wooden window frames and the gleaming white stove-enamel panels which enclose the prefabricated concrete framework, their starkness reduced by much lush planting around the backyards.

Roman road

Bridge from Stane Street.

South Lodge Avenue

Park. Unusually generous in scale but disappointingly flat and featureless.

Library and Community Centre, 1969-70 and 1970-2 by M. Kitchen of the Borough Architect's Department. One-storeyed, with emphatically projecting flat roofs, handsome complements to this housing estate around

William Morris Middle School, 1970-2 by the Borough Architect's Department, S. de Grey, R. Padovan, planned for 600 children. The first new middle school in Merton, one of the few London boroughs to adopt a three-tier education system. A low rectangle with flexibly planned teaching areas with movable partitions on either side of a service core. The poor natural lighting that results from the deep plan is improved only by the central botanical court with glazed pyramid roof. MACE structure, as usual not specially attractive externally

Warwick Road

St Stephen, 1908


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bromley by Bow

Post to the west (north west quarter) Mile End Post to the west (north east quarter) Post to the east Bromley by Bow Post to the north Old Ford Addington Road Addington Arms . Pub dating from the 1860s. It does not appear to be still there. Police stables . From 1938 twenty horses were located here. These stables were built in moderne style white concrete by police surveyor Gilbert Mackenzie Trench. There is a stable at the back as well as tack rooms and a chimney for the forge – there was a full time farrier. Above are two flats for married police officers. The white concrete wall is original.  Alfred Street 1-5 Inland Revenue Office . Sold off 1981. Has been used as a college an as offices Almshouses Way, This was once called Priscilla Street.  1 Drapers' Almshouses . These were built in 1706.  What remains is a brick group of four tenements with central raised and pedimented chapel. They were restored in 1982 but were originally part of a larger group funded by
Read more

South Norwood

Post to the south Woodside Post to the east Birkbeck Post to the north Anerley Albert Road This road is the earliest built here, first listed in 1855, and although the Croydon Canal was no longer in use it influenced the alignment of the road. From the junction with Portland Road looking the curve of the road reflects the line of the old canal which was to the north of the houses. It is named after Albert, the Prince Consort. 74-76 Stanleybury . Very large three-storey semis. Built for William Stanley, who moved to 74 in 1867. William Stanley’s works in South Norwood was complimented by his local philanthropy. His site is now a close of modern flats. Accidentally demolished. 67 small trading estate and MOT centre .  At one time this was home to a theatre transport specialist. St.Mark . This was the first church in the area and is the parish church by G. H. Lewis. The nave was built in 1852 and the church was extended in 1862 and in successive years until 1890. It is in Kentis
Read more

River Lea/Bow Creek Canning Town

River Lea/Bow Creek The Lea winds itself generally southwards towards the Thames TQ 39505 81448 Canning Town on the Essex bank of Lea/Bow Creek. This was, and is, a heavily industrialised area together with a very down market housing area with markets, shops, cinemas, pubs and many charitable and missionary organisations. In the 2000s public transport has been transformed and much housing renewed, and it is an area in a great deal of change. Post to the west Poplar Post to the south Leamouth   and Dome Post to the east Canning Town, Butchers Road Post to the north West Ham Station Appleby Road The road is named after a local ARP warden who was killed during the Blitz. A pre-war suburban ideal is demonstrated in this West Ham estate. Barking Road It was built by the Commercial Road Turnpike Trust from the East India Docks eastwards. Now the A124 it formed part of the original A13 before the building so the East Ham  and Barking Bypass in 1928. It was widened as part o
Read more