This section is dedicated to the work of Eric Lyons for the private developer Span. Their developments which were first ‘branded” SPAN from Parkleys onwards are of a polite suburban modernism that has become instantly recognisable and much mimicked with often questionable results. The developments are low rise, using a typical palate of materials including, hanging tiles, brick, timber weatherboarding and also with the occasional concrete detailing. There’s great attention to detail inside and out. This includes the signage and the characteristic mushroom lights which give soft indirect lighting to the landscaping. The blocks or houses are carefully laid out in mostly generous communal “woodland” style gardens often retaining mature trees already inhabiting the sites. There is usually a subtle separation of car and pedestrian, making the pedestrian King rather than the car. Properties are often accessed from pedestrian only pathways. Garages are often hidden away and access roads kept to a minimum. The design and communal management of the developments contributes strongly to creating successful micro communities. As a Span “stalker” I have chatted to many friendly residents on my visits and never found one that has been unhappy with their environment. Often been proudly shown around their homes as well. The local cats seem to have a high level of smug satisfaction to! They are very popular properties today with mid Century enthusiasts and many estates are now seeing a younger generation of individuals & families moving in and doing their best to restore and renovate their houses sympathetically. The photos here are of the developments I have visited so for over the last 4 years but there will certainly be more to come! In particular New Ash Green which I have yet to visit, now this a big one! If you want to know more about Span, buy the excellent, Eric Lyons & Span book by Riba Publishing. Its one of my most used books!
Photo above: Parkleys, Ham Common.
Parkleys, Ham Common, Richmond, London. The first large scale Span branded Estate from 1956. Designed by Eric Lyons. Grade II listed. In excellent “time capsule” original condition. It’s looking good right now as it’s just had an extensive redecoration and repairs to the original timber windows. As with all Span developments, built as a private estate. All owners are share of the freehold…
Parkleys, Ham Common
Parkleys, Ham Common
Parkleys, Ham Common
Parkleys, Ham Common
Parkleys, Ham Common
Parkleys, Ham Common
Parkleys, Ham Common
The Fieldend Estate. A real mid century unspoilt gem in Strawberry Hill, Twickenham. Designed by Eric Lyons for the developer Span. Completed in 1961. comprised of 51 three bedroom (T7 & T8 type) houses arranged in generous parkland style gardens. The houses are compact but well designed and the good size private gardens and communal areas make up for that. Some have added ground floor extensions to the rear, some more successfully than others. Has been made a conservation area which helps to explain the untouched time capsule appearance. They often come up on "The Modern House" estate agent so if you want a peek inside go there and check out their archive….
Fieldend
Fieldend
Thurnby Court, Twickenham: Not far from Strawberry Hill Station A Span development of 27 flats dating from 1958. Very similar to Parkleys in Ham which pre-dates, 1956.
Thurnby Court, Twickenham.
Thurnby Court, Twickenham.
Thurnby Court, Twickenham
Templemere in Weybridge: A beautiful and unique Span Estate. Completed in 1965, 65 houses sit in beautifully landscaped gardens by Preben Jakobsen. Huge existing Cedar trees were retained and included in the landscaping. Octagonal shaped L1 type houses (in photo) are arranged in outward facing crescents. These are big houses by Span standards with 4 good size bedrooms upstairs and a huge living room space on ground. Entrance hall and a long kitchen the full depth of the houses which are set to one side. 3 bedroom T2Y houses make up the bulk of the estate. These are laid out in irregular staggered terraces and also have angled sections to the facades. Both houses have full height glazing to front and back facades which makes them feel bigger inside and full of light. Sadly many residents don’t seem to appreciate them as most are covered up with net curtains, blinds etc..No original windows seem to remain but replacements have mostly stuck to the original configurations. Some old front doors remain but there are many rather poor replacements and even a couple of my most hated, the “ period style “ door!! The estate is now a conservation area so it should only get better from now on.
Templemere, Weybridge
Templemere, Weybridge
Templemere, Weybridge
Castle Green, Weybridge, Surrey. A small Span Estate Not far from Templemere. 22, three bed houses of the T2Ad type. Dated 1965. Arranged in terraces around and off a lovely communal green. I really like the abstract elevation of the front windows with the opening elements painted white and the fixed frames in grey. At ground level there is a projected section in white slatted timber that houses the entrance hall, WC & an external cupboard. Clerestory lighting on the roof lights the staircase, hall and bathroom. As with many Span houses they are on the compact side but things such as big windows, roof lighting, pitched ceilings in the upper rooms and open plan layouts on the ground make them feel bigger than they are. Well maintained in good original condition.
Castle green, Weybridge.
Castle green, Weybridge.
Brackley, in Weybridge 1965. 46 houses of T16 (3 bed) & T17 (4 bed) type. Inverted pitched “butterfly” roofs. Generously sized by Span standards, the ground floors have three reception areas (one probably intended as a study) and a separate kitchen. Large entrance hall with a WC projects out at the front. To the right is an enclosed courtyard which is odd as it neither connects to the kitchen or an outdoor store. All original windows and front doors have sadly been replaced but at least with the correct configurations. Landscaping is not as interesting or prominent as on other Span estates. Garage areas are more visible / dominant.
Brackley, Weybridge
Brackley, Weybridge
The Hall, Blackheath, London . Hall 4, Foxes Dale, 1967. The Hall, 1957-67, being made up of Hall 1, 2, 4 & Hallgate and forming the biggest group / estate in the area. Blackheath has the highest density of separate Span developments anywhere. I have yet to get decent photos of them all…
Hall 4, Foxes Dale, Blackheath
Foxes Dale opposite the Hall, Blackheath:. These three houses are unique and built as experimental Span show homes. Called the T3 House of ideas, 1957. Spatially complex inside. 3 storey. Circulation via a large spiral staircase. Ground extension to rear with an internal courtyard garden and also did have a roof terrace over with pergola structure. Garages are separate rather than integrated at the front as were many (non Span) 3 storey “town houses” of the period. Would love to see inside one of these. Original elevations & windows intact. Difficult to photograph due to trees and walls, could not see the rear elevations...Designed by Eric Lyons for the developer Span. Blackheath is a real hot spot for Span with around 20! Developments. The Hall, 1957-67, being made up of Hall 1, 2, 4 & Hallgate and forming the biggest group / estate in the area.
The Lane, Blackheath:. 39 three bedroom houses (T10/T15) type 1964. The T15 shown is quite big for span houses at 6.1M wide. Love these houses, all in original condition. Generous timber windows with metal opening sash sections. White painted timber cladding that goes vertical and horizontal. Attention to detail is great, love the way the house number on the door sits justified left or right on the letterbox forming part of the overall composition of the facade. Also check out the Scandinavian style mushroom lamps which are a trademark Span detail. They give subtle pools of light within the landscape thus avoiding lampposts.
The Lane, Blackheath
Southrow, Blackheath. A small Span development on the South edge of the Heath dating from 1963. Two L shaped blocks partially enclose a communal lawned garden. The North block is flats and the south block is formed of maisonettes raised up on garages. The maisonettes are great inside, look on “the modern house” to see one on their archive. The buildings have all of their original windows and doors.
Southrow, Blackheath
Southrow, Blackheath
Southrow, Blackheath
Grasmere in Byfleet: A selection of 11 prototype Span houses dating from 1967. The terrace above went on to become the K2 type used at New Ash Green. 3 bedroom houses, monopitch roofed with asbestos hanging tiles to the first floor. Unusual parallelogram shaped projecting entrance halls clad in rough cut blackened vertical boarding. Fantastic inside, spacious, and the rooms upstairs feel particularly light filled and big as the ceilings are following the pitch of the roofs. Tony a resident of 20 years noticed me taking pics and very kindly showed me round his house. He’s proud to have a Span house so it’s in good hands! Some of the houses actually have their original windows and front doors which is quite an achievement as they are not listed. Another terrace of varied timber clad prototypes & some small bungalows are along side, see the following photos. Grasmere is on the corner of the much bigger Weymede which has 130 houses.
Grasmere, Byfleet.
Grasmere, Byfleet.
Grasmere, Byfleet.
Grasmere, Byfleet.
Grasmere, Byfleet.
Grasmere, Byfleet.
Weymede in Byfleet: A Span Estate of 130 houses, T2A/R type. 3 storey & 2 storey terraces. This is the first Span Estate where I have seen a very large quantity of my much hated “period style” white plastic front door! 😱 like most Span estates there is a Restrictive Covenant in place so very surprised that these hideous and totally unsuitable doors were approved! Sadly says a lot about the taste of many owners, not appreciating the type of modernist house they have! 😔 Original ones were plain doors and painted in a selection of primary colours, red, yellow, blue etc.
Weymede, Byfleet
Weymede, Byfleet
Weymede in Byfleet
Weymede, Byfleet
Weymede, Byfleet
Highsett 1, Cambridge. By Eric Lyons & Ivor Cunningham for Span 1960. Highset 1 is somewhat unique for Span as the three story block forms loop around a quadrangle, presumably in reference to its location. On two sides at ground level it’s partially open under skinny pilotis for entering and circulation. Accommodation is a selection of flats and some maisonettes. Sadly most of the original windows to the flats have been replaced with white UPVC. Shame the budget could not have extended to Velfac ones.
Highsett 1, Cambridge. Section of remaining original facade with lockup’s behind
Highsett 1, Cambridge. Beautiful entrance lobby of black painted skinny metal frames and Teak. Terrazzo staircase with steel and timber balustrade. All beautifully detailed and in original condition. This type of open entrance lobby can also be seen at Parkleys, Ham & Hallgate, Blackheath.
Highsett 1, Cambridge .Entrance Lobby
Highsett 1, Cambridge .Entrance Lobby
Highsett 1, Cambridge.
Highsett 2, Cambridge. By Eric Lyons & Ivor Cunningham for Span 1963. 17 three bed houses in three terraces off Tenison Avenue. T7/T8 type, both have the same layouts but the T7 is bigger. See the layouts on page 230 of the essential, Eric Lyons & Span book by RIBA publishing. In original condition but some of the windows are looking to be at the end of their life, let’s hope they make the right choice as to their replacements when that happens.
Highsett 2, Cambridge.
Highsett 3, Cambridge. By Eric Lyons & Ivor Cunningham for Span 1965. 31 three storey townhouses, a rare format for Span. Animated modelling with projecting bays and butterfly roofs. Projecting entrance block with integrated WC. The window to which has a cute little brutalist concrete drain detail over which is very Goldfinger. A brick bin enclosure to the front helps to partially enclose the front yard. Lovely and unusual white painted chunky timber window frames contrasting with skinny aluminium sash sections. All in lovely pale yellow brick and white painted weatherboard.
Highsett 3, Cambridge
Highsett 3, Cambridge
Highsett 3, Cambridge
Mallard Place, Twickenham: Span goes 1980s....The last Span estate dating from 1984, Mallard Place by Eric Lyons Cunningham Partnership. Off the Thames at Twickenham. It’s not like the Span estates we know and love but it’s interesting. An eclectic mix of houses and flats. Many of which look like Spanish holiday villas. It’s quite high density and more dominated by the car so there’s not much of the usual landscaping you expect from Span, although there is a big lawn facing onto the Thames. Also entrance doors are often somewhat hidden away in narrow passages up stairs which makes the estate appear less sociable. It’s a popular estate though and they sell quickly when they come on the market.
Mallard Place, Twickenham
Mallard Place, Twickenham
Mallard Place, Twickenham
Mallard Place, Twickenham
Mallard Place, Twickenham
Mallard Place, Twickenham