theresident.co.uk 21 HERITAGE Design district Left: Bedford Park was London’s first ever ‘Garden Suburb’, and offered city workers a taste of country life. The distinct design of the houses was much celebrated, and 356 of the area’s properties are Grade II Listed (above) Elliot Tucker explores the histroy of Bedford Park, the world’s first ‘garden suburb’ I n the latter part of the 19th century, Chiswick found itself at the centre of a new building movement that would go on to influence housing around the country and, some might argue, the world. In 1875 Jonathan Carr, a cloth merchant, acquired three Georgian Houses close to the newly-opened Turnham Green station. His vision was to expand this smallholding into a community of similar properties with local amenities and direct transport links to the city. The Bedford brothers had built one of the properties, and so Jonathan named the newly-conceived development in their honour. Bedford Park stretched west to east from Esmond to Abinger Roads and north to south from Fielding to Flanders Roads. The land adjacent to the properties was a collection of orchards and fields owned by the renowned botanist Jonathan Lindley. He had dotted Bedford Park with grand and opulent trees that afforded an authentic village feel to the area. For city traders and bankers such a rural idyll with direct links to the city was highly desirable as the smog and cramped conditions of London became detrimental to health. Jonathan quickly began assembling a team of architects to produce designs for spacious houses of distinct character alongside a church, pub, shops and even a clubhouse that would form the hub of the new community. The ‘Queen Anne revivalist’ style dominated the designs of the properties, along with a more artistic flourish which subscribed to the ‘Aesthetic Movement’, allowing for large sash windows, fluted chimneys and sloping roofs. The interiors featured modern tiling, wall matting and wallpaper designed by William Morris. The Tabard Pub was built as a part of the estate and still stands as one of the pre-eminent examples of a William Morris interior. By 1886 most of the work had finished and Bedford Park was flooded with the middle classes looking for a country way of life, close to the city. The innovative style of housing and modernist designs also attracted some well-known personalities including W.B. Yeats, who lived at 8 Woodstock Road, and Camille Pissarro who lived at 62 Bath Road. The design of Bedford Park quickly spread and became the prototype for ‘Garden Suburbs’ around the world, as cities became too congested for comfortable living. In 1904 the celebrated German critic Herman Muthesius said that Bedford Park ‘signifies the starting point of the smaller modern house, which immediately spread from there over the whole country.’ Whilst Sir John Betjeman believed it to be ‘the most significant suburb built in the last century, probably in the western world.’ Sadly the interwar period, and right up to the late 50’s, saw a huge decline in the development, with bus conductors reputedly shouting ‘Poverty Park’ upon arrival. Fortunately in 1963 the Bedford Park Society was established to prevent this decline; Sir John Betjeman was the first patron. In 1969 Ealing Borough deemed the whole of Bedford Park a conservation area and 356 of its houses were Grade II listed. Although it nearly financially ruined Jonathan Carr, Bedford Park stands today as a monument to the endeavours of one man with a vision to change London living.

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A potted history of Bedford Park, Chiswick- the world's first garden suburb.

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theresident.co.uk 21

HERITAGE

Design district

Left: Bedford Park was Londons rst ever Garden Suburb, and offered city workers a taste of country life. The distinct design of the houses was much celebrated, and 356 of the areas properties are Grade II Listed (above)

Elliot Tucker explores the histroy of Bedford Park, the worlds first garden suburb

I n the latter part of the 19th century, Chiswick found itself at the centre of a new building movement that would go on to inuence housing around the country and, some might argue, the world. In 1875 Jonathan Carr, a cloth merchant, acquired three Georgian Houses close to the newly-opened Turnham Green station. His vision was to expand this smallholding into a community of similar properties with local amenities and direct transport links to the city. The Bedford brothers had built one of the properties, and so Jonathan named the newly-conceived development in their honour. Bedford Park stretched west to east from Esmond to Abinger Roads and north to south from Fielding to Flanders Roads.

The land adjacent to the properties was a collection of orchards and elds owned by the renowned botanist Jonathan Lindley. He had dotted Bedford Park with grand and opulent trees that afforded an authentic village feel to the area. For city traders and bankers such a rural idyll with direct links to the city was highly desirable as the smog and cramped conditions of

London became detrimental to health. Jonathan quickly began assembling a team of architects to produce designs for spacious houses of distinct character alongside a church, pub, shops and even a clubhouse that would form the hub of the new community.

The Queen Anne revivalist style dominated the designs of the properties, along with a more artistic ourish which subscribed to the Aesthetic Movement, allowing for large sash windows, uted chimneys and sloping roofs. The interiors featured modern tiling, wall matting and wallpaper designed by William Morris. The Tabard Pub was built as a part of the estate and still stands as one of the pre-eminent examples of a William Morris interior.

By 1886 most of the work had nished and Bedford Park was ooded with the middle classes looking for a country way of life, close to the city. The innovative style of housing and modernist designs also attracted some well-known personalities including W.B. Yeats, who lived at 8 Woodstock Road, and Camille Pissarro who lived at 62 Bath Road.

The design of Bedford Park quickly spread and became the prototype for Garden Suburbs around the world, as cities became too congested for comfortable living. In 1904 the celebrated German critic Herman Muthesius said that Bedford Park signies the starting point of the smaller modern house, which immediately spread from there over the whole country. Whilst Sir John Betjeman believed it to be the most signicant suburb built in the last century, probably in the western world.

Sadly the interwar period, and right up to the late 50s, saw a huge decline in the development, with bus conductors reputedly shouting Poverty Park upon arrival. Fortunately in 1963 the Bedford Park Society was established to prevent this decline; Sir John Betjeman was the rst patron. In 1969 Ealing Borough deemed the whole of Bedford Park a conservation area and 356 of its houses were Grade II listed. Although it nearly nancially ruined Jonathan Carr, Bedford Park stands today as a monument to the endeavours of one man with a vision to change London living.