Bedford Park, London

Bedford Park, London

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

region= London
official_name= Bedford Park
london_borough= Ealing
london_borough1= Hounslow
post_town= LONDON
postcode_area= W
postcode_district= W4
dial_code= 020
os_grid_reference= TQ207793
latitude= 51.500099
longitude= -0.261699
constituency_westminster=

Bedford Park is a suburban development of London, England. It forms a conservation area that is mostly within the London Borough of Ealing, with a small part to the east within the London Borough of Hounslow.

History

It can be justly described as the world's first garden suburb.Affleck Greeves, T. 1975 "Bedford Park, the First Garden Suburb", Jones Bolsterli, M. 1977 "The Early Community at Bedford Park : "Corporate Happiness" in the First Garden Suburb".] Although it was not built in the cooperative manner like some later developments (Brentham Garden Suburb, Hampstead Garden Suburb) it created a model that was emulated not just by the Garden city movement, but suburban developments around the world. Sir John Betjeman described Bedford Park “the most significant suburb built in the last century, probably in the western world”. Herman Muthesius, the celebrated German critic who wrote "The English House" in 1904 said "It signifies neither more nor less than the starting point of the smaller modern house, which spread from there over the whole country."

The developer was Jonathan Carr who in 1875 bought 24 acres of land just north of Turnham Green Station in West London which had been constructed six years earlier. The City of London was only 30 minutes by steam train and the site was blessed with many fine trees. The desire to protect the mature trees led to the informal plan that is major feature of Bedford Park. The first architect for the estate was Edward William Godwin a leading member of the Aesthetic Movement, but his plans came in for some criticism in The Builder, the leading professional journal of its day, and Godwin and Carr parted company. Some designs were commissioned from the firm of Coe and Robinson, but in 1877 Carr hired Richard Norman Shaw the leading architect of his day to be the Estate architect. By then the layout of the Park had been set but Shaw’s house designs, in the Queen Anne style, proved remarkably successful in creating an impression of great variety whilst employing a limited number of house types.

In the 1880s with its church, parish hall, club, stores, pub and school of art, living in Bedford Park was the height of fashion. W. B. Yeats, the actor William Terriss, the actress Florence Farr, the playwright Arthur Wing Pinero and the painter Camille Pissarro lived here. Bedford Park is Saffron Park in G. K. Chesterton’s "The Man who was Thursday" and Biggleswick in John Buchan’s "Mr. Standfast". So fashionable did it become that Bedford Park came in for some gently ribbing in the St James's Gazette in the Ballad of Bedford Park:

::This London is a foggy town ::(Thus to himself said he)::Where bricks are black, trees are brown ::And faces are dirtee::I will seek out a brighter spot::Continued Mr Carr::"Not too near London, and yet not::What might be called too far::Tis there a village I’ll erect::With Norman Shaw’s assistance::Where men may lead a chaste correct::Aesthetical existence".

:: 'Tis here, my Norman tried and true:: our houses we'll erect;:: I'll be the landlord bold, and you:: Shall be the Architect.

:: 'Here trees are green and bricks are red:: and clean the face of man;:: We'll build our houses here', he said,:: 'In style of good Queen Anne'.

:: And Norman Shaw looked up and saw,:: and smiled a cheerful smile.:: 'This thing I'll do', said he, 'while you:: the denizens beguile'.

:: To work went then these worthy men,:: so philanthropic both;:: And none who sees the bricks and trees:: to sign the lease is loth.

::'Let's have a stores', said Jonathan;:: said Norman, 'So we will,:: For naught can soothe the soul of man:: like a reasonable bill'.

::'A Church likewise', J.T. replies:: Says Shaw, 'I'll build a Church,:: Yet sure I fear the aesthetes here:: will leave it in the lurch.'

::'Religion' pious Carr rejoined, :: 'in Moncure Conway's view,:: Is not devoid of interest:: although it be not true

:: 'Then let us make a house for her,:: sherein she may abide,:: And those who choose may visit her;:: the rest may stay outside'...

::With red and blue and sagest green::Were walls and dado dyed,::Friezes of Morris there were seen::And oaken wainscot wide.

:: Thus was a village builded:: For all who are aesthete:: Whose precious souls it fill did:: With utter joy complete.

::For floors were stained and polished:: And every hearth was tiled:: And Philistines abolished:: By Culture's gracious child...

:: Now he who loves aesthetic cheer:: and does not mind the damp:: May comen and read Rossetti here:: By a Japanese-y lamp.

As the 20th century drew on the place became less a centre of fashion; the houses were multi occupied and bus conductors called out "Poverty Park" when they stopped on the Bath Road. The demolition by Acton Council of The Bramptons and its replacement by a five storey old people's home led directly to the foundation in 1963 of the Bedford Park Society. Through the activities of the society, in 1967 the government listed the greater part of the estate, a total of 356 houses. A few years later both Ealing and Hounslow councils designated Bedford Park a conservation area. Since that time the area has gradually improved. Houses have returned to family use and many have been renovated.

The Bedford Park Society

The society was formed in 1963 by two local residents Harry Taylor – president of the south Acton conservatives - and architect Tom Greeves who lived in Newton Grove and was a founder member of the Victorian Society. Their concerns about the future of Bedford Park were united by the demolition of The Bramptons in Bedford Park to make way for an old people’s home. Harry became chairman of the fledgling organisation, Tom the Secretary and John Betjeman the first patron. In the first year the society grew to 200 members who were exhorted not to make unsuitable improvements to their homes. However Greeves was aware that the only real protection for the whole estate lay in getting the buildings statutorily listed. The breakthrough came in 1967 with the exhibition Artists and Architecture of Bedford Park 1875 -1900 staged in the ground floor of the Vicarage. The exhibition was visited by Arthur Grogan, a government inspector from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. Through Grogan 356 of Bedford Park’s houses were Grade II listed and in 1969 and 1970 the borough of Ealing and Hounslow respectively declared conservation areas for their half of the suburb. Tom Greeves was secretary and de facto leader of the society for many years. He died in 1997. Today the society can be content that it has successfully stayed the hands of demolition and has protected the general architectural quality of the estate and its surrounding area. However, much needs to be done in informing residents- particularly new one – of the significance of the place and how it should be maintained for future generations. Today the pressures to significantly alter houses are growing. The society has always taken the view that some change is inevitable and indeed necessary of the estate is going to continue to house a vibrant community. The BPS Log Book, which is issued to every listed house, helps owners learn about the history of their dwelling and how it should be maintained. The society reviews all planning applications and gives its views to the local authorities. The society's main role is to protect the amenity of the first garden suburb. It is not a residents' association per se but it does get involved in more general issues such as parking and traffic where these have an environmental impact. A newsletter is published once a quarter, the committee meets every month. The Annual Party is held in January, the Annual General Meeting in April, the Betjeman Lecture in November and the society takes a stall for Green Day in June.

Conservation area

The Bedford Park conservation area stretches from Esmond Road in the West (although it is only the houses which fall on the east side of the road which are included in the conservation area), to Abinger Road in the East, from Flanders Road in the South to Fielding Road in the north. Within the Conservation area planning permission is required for most new building work, alterations and extensions. Cladding, new dormer windows and the erection of satellite dishes all require permission.

Listed buildings

Most of the early buildings in Bedford Park are Grade II listed. This means that the whole building is protected, including the interiors, outhouses and boundary walls and fences. Listed building consent is required for any alterations, extensions, excavations and demolition.

Trees

All trees in the conservation area are protected and it is an offence to carry out works on a tree without written permission of the local council.

Planning committee

The Bedford Park Society is invited by the two local authorities to review all planning applications. The views of the society are taken into account when determining applications. Additionally, Ealing has a conservation area advisory committee which also comments on applications.

References

External links

* [http://www.bedfordpark.org The Bedford Park Society]


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