Span apartment at Parkleys development, Richmond upon Thames, Surrey
This Span apartment at Parkleys development, Richmond upon Thames, Surrey, is a thing of beauty. It is just on the market.
The Parkleys development is not just a thing of beauty; it is also a thing of importance. Parkleys was the first Span development, designed by Eric Lyons in the mid-1950s and constructed between 1955 and 1956.
Its significance means it has grade II-listed status. This is where the journey began. I have featured a number of Span houses and developments over the years, but Parkleys, with its 1950s modernist charm, has its own added importance.
Apartment blocks rarely survive unscathed over the decades, but Parkleys has largely done that, no doubt helped by its location in a Richmond Borough Conservation Area. So, although the apartments themselves are open to the owners’ tastes, the block and the setting remain faithful to Eric Lyons’ vision. That’s the big pull here.
Large windows (with original frames), the tile-clad frontage, and that well-preserved communal area are absolute pictures. There is also that communal garden to enjoy from your window.
However, let’s not talk down the interior—far from it. The current owners have done a wonderful job maintaining the original details inside while keeping the apartment relevant in the 21st century. The end result is stylish, retro, and very liveable.
This particular apartment is in Dryden Court, a two-bedroom first (or top) floor apartment that’s notable for those original features still being in place.
The open-tiled fireplace and box shelf, reeded glass doors, and all the original partitions, carpentry, and ironmongery. Add in some original (or remade) midcentury modern touches, as the owners have done here, and you have a very cool living space from the mid-20th century.
It has a good amount of space for an apartment, too. Apartments tended to be more generous with floor space 70 years ago. You’ll be lucky to see a living room this large on a new build.
A communal entrance leads to stars, which in turn leads to a first-floor landing with a door to a shared and lockable drying room, as well as this apartment.
Walk in and access the hall/utility, which in turn leads to the page reception room with glazing running the width of the room. Note also the open fireplace, shelf, and cast iron radiator.
The kitchen beyond that has a Belfast sink on a stand and spaces for units and appliances. Windows also overlook the rear communal garden area. A reeded glass door off the main reception room separates off the inner lobby, which has fitted book shelving, a cast iron radiator and doors to the bedrooms and bathroom.
There are two bedrooms, with views over the front and rear, respectively, and what looks like an original bathroom.
You can see the communal gardens, but you can also spend your summer days in them. A mix of paving, grass and planted areas to the front and mainly grassed with trees to the rear. Of course, there is a maintenance cost for both the communal areas within and outside, which works out at £660 per quarter and also includes building insurance, communal lighting and cleaning, general maintenance and repairs, and external window cleaning.
But before you worry about that, consider the price, which is £399,950. If you want a closer look, there is an open day scheduled for Saturday, March 16th. Contact the agent for details.
Images and details courtesy of Mervyn Smith. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
