Parkleys (Richmond)
Brief Description
The largest of Eric Lyons' schemes for Span Developments Ltd, Parkleys consists of 169 flats and 6 shops in two and three storey blocks on the main road. Behind this 'protective barrier' two storey terraces are grouped around enclosures, with vistas of the landscaping around and beyond. The landscaping of trees, grass and shrubs emphasise colour, contrast, texture and contour with areas of paving, lawns and planting on rectangular designs. The spirit of the original design is still evident. Prior to housing development the land had been a nursery and a number of existing trees were retained and incorporated into the landscaping.
Practical Information
- Site location:
- off Upper Ham Road, Ham
- Postcode:
- TW10
- What 3 Words:
- dots.weedy.shelf
- Type of site:
- Housing/Estate Landscaping
- Borough:
- Richmond
- Open to public?
- Partially
- Opening times:
- Appears to have unrestricted access to public areas
- Special conditions:
- Facilities:
- Events:
- Public transport:
- Rail/London Overground/Tube (District): Richmond then bus.
- Research updated:
- 01/03/2004
- Last minor changes:
- 19/07/2023
Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news.
Full Site Description
The Span development consortium grew from the partnership formed in 1938 by architects Eric Lyons (1912-80) and Geoffrey Paulson Townsend who embraced Modernist ideology. In the late 1940s the partnership evolved whereby Townsend would act as developer, acquiring the site for a housing scheme that Lyons would then design. In 1957 Townsend acquired a company, Span, and this led to the establishment of Span Developments Ltd, which also included builder and developer Leslie Bilsby, who had worked with such Modernist architects as Erno Goldfinger and Denys Lasdun. In 1955 Eric Cunningham had joined Lyons' architectural team and became particularly responsible for the design of the landscaping for the schemes, the partnership becoming the Eric Lyons Cunningham Partnership in 1963. The Span schemes were often set within existing planting, such as here at Parkleys sited on a former nursery. Part of the ethos was to engender a communal spirit whereby the residents took responsibility for the overall environment and initially nearly all Span schemes were originally leasehold properties, Span remaining ground landlord, with tenants covenanted to keep the estate in good order. Maintenance of communal areas was undertaken through residents' management committees.
Sources consulted:
Bridget Cherry & Nikolaus Pevsner, The Buildings of England: London 2: South (Penguin) 1999.
Further Information (Planning and Conservation)
- Grid ref:
- TQ179717 (517935,171656)
- Size in hectares:
- 3.24
- Site ownership:
- Private
- Site management:
- Date(s):
- 1953-6; 1967
- Designer(s):
- Eric Lyons / Ivor Cunningham (Span Developments Ltd)
- Listed structures:
- None
- On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:
No- Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:
No- Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:
No
Local Authority Data
The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.
- On Local List:
- No
- In Conservation Area:
- Yes
- Conservation Area name:
- Parkleys Estate
- Tree Preservation Order:
- No
- Nature Conservation Area:
- No
- Green Belt:
- No
- Metropolitan Open Land:
- No
- Special Policy Area:
- No
- Other LA designation:
- None
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.