THE BEDFORD PARK JOURNAL Celebrating the architecture, people and history of the suburb

For members of the Bedford Park Society Autumn/Winter 2017 2 Bedford Park Journal Autumn/Winter 2017

Research pays off

Local resident A few years ago my wife and I bid for a charming old black and white photograph of Priory Road (later renamed Priory Ralph Palmer Gilhooly’s Avenue) on an internet auction site. When it arrived I was surprised to find that it was a postcard with a message in and his wife Georgina French from a boy to his father and mother. Handwritten on Mitford’s keen interest in the photograph was the date, le 17 Juillet 1912, and a cross on what looked like our front door! Bedford Park history led Using a magnifying glass and with the help of a lovely friend to his discovery of an (fluent in French) we finally managed to decipher the text intriguing link between addressed to Mr and Mrs L Arnoult in Rouen, France: I realised that George Derville Rowlandson was a well-known Priory Avenue and a painter who lived in the house next door to ours in 1912 so 1920s’ Tour de France the cross had been drawn to show his house rather than ours. George had two sons, one of whom was called Paulin, cyclist. and who would at that time have been eight years old.

Dear Parents I am writing this card mostly to announce the arrival of my bicycle. This morning I made it into London by bike and it took me a long time. I hope you are all well. I am in perfect health and I’m occupying myself a lot with food, which is good for me. I understand a fair amount when people address me at the table and I speak as well. At mealtimes we have whisky and water – it’s really good. I’ve been to London with Mr Rowlandson and his son Paulin, who is small for his age. When we came back we took the tube, which was really good. In London your money gets used up pretty quickly and I only have half a pound and 21 and a half pennies left. See you soon dear parents. Your son loves you lots, Maurice . Bedford Park Journal Autumn/Winter 2017 3

Facing page: Maurice Arnoult as a competitor in the Tour de France Below left: Maurice’s cross on the right hand side of the photograph of the Priory Road postcard. Below right: his message to his parents in France

Link to Tour de France As I researched further, I found myself typing “Maurice Garden suburb Arnoult Cycling” onto the internet and was astonished to see “Tour de France entrant 1923 –1930.” Could this be the same paradise person? I emailed the Official Tour de France website and received an email within minutes, requesting a high Bedford Park features in an impressively researched book, definition scan of the postcard text, which I duly supplied. which is the first major attempt to provide a worldwide The reply was from a very excited cycling historian who history and analysis of the garden suburb. At some 1,072 confirmed that the Bedford Park Maurice Arnoult was indeed pages and weighing five kilos, the sheer size of “Paradise the Tour de France racer. Planned: The Garden Suburb and the Modern City” is a Maurice was born in Rouen in 1897 and was 15 years old reflection of the 1,000 garden suburbs the authors have when he visited London. The Tour de France office was discovered. Many are in Britain, the USA and Europe but astonished that he had requested his own bike be sent from Moscow, Cairo and Sao Paulo, for instance, also boast France while he was on holiday. A considerable feat in those garden suburbs. days and evidence of how seriously this rider took his cycling and training while on holiday in another country! The four pages on Bedford Park do not add greatly to what we already know but it is interesting to see its place Maurice was an entrant in the Tour de France from 1923– in this story, marking the moment when “the planned 1930 as a private competitor (Touriste-Routier), racing garden village comes into its full maturity.” Authors against teams by himself. Just one man, one bike, a couple of Robert A M Stern, David Fisman and Jacob Tilove note that spare tyres over his shoulder and 5,400 kilometre of racing, the garden suburb concept became discredited when often on poorly maintained roads. A far cry from today’s “suburb” was associated with the unplanned sprawl multi-million pound operations. characteristic of the motorised era and with debased Maurice finished a very respectable 26th in 1924 and in the architectural values. 3rd stage of the 1927 race he finished 3rd behind the They contend that on the contrary the history of the overall winner. After his racing career he ran his own cycling planned garden suburb demonstrates that it has been “an shop in Evreux until his death in 1959. incomparable work of environmental art combining It’s nice to think that somewhere in the official Tour de enlightened land planning, landscape and architecture to France archives is a photograph showing a Bedford Park shape neighbourhoods and foster a sense of community.” scene and that intriguing cross. The authors support a reassessment by planners of the For tips on researching the history of your home, check the garden suburb which they suggest offers the opportunity Society’s website www.bedfordpark.org.uk under “Bedford to face up to the need for “walkable” neighbourhoods, Park.” If you have any interesting stories about past residents, access to public transport and reduced car use, while also we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact us at re-establishing a lost sense of “community.” [email protected]. 4 Bedford Park Journal Autumn/Winter 2017 Our urban forest

In 1875 when Jonathan T Carr bought to the prevention of ozone layer 24 acres of land just north of Turnham depletion and excessive heat Green Station for the development of amelioration; provide habitats for Bedford Park, he inherited a site with wildlife; food and materials for us and many fine trees. The estate was built on help improve the quality of the air. orchards and an arboretum with some Research has shown significant health of these trees incorporated into the benefits for people living in tree-lined original layout. Jonathan Carr and his streets in addition to improved house architects’ design ensured that trees values. became an integral part of Bedford Tillia Tree management Park’s enduring appeal. Roads were laid and Ash dieback is a continuing out to preserve existing trees and many Street trees are the responsibility of the problem. The Society is in discussion additional ones planted, creating a relevant borough but the Society has with both councils about suitable village atmosphere for the “first garden now established an effective dialogue species for future planting, recognising suburb” that blended urban and rural with both councils and we are that size is dependent on the quality of features. Original plans for the estate increasingly developing our influence tree pits and surrounding earth, as well show avenues of young trees lining the on the plans for tree management. as overall space. If the right species is pavements, along with chestnuts and Keeping forest trees to a reasonable selected, tree growth and maintenance size in an urban environment requires planes. of pavements can be managed. pruning, at least every three years, but Over the years, disease, age and storms the squeeze on budgets has led to less Forest trees will now only be planted have taken their toll and a replacement frequent pruning over recent years so where there is suitable space, for programme for the suburb’s street trees that a number of Lime, Chestnut and example in Bath Road, and rather than has been vital. Not only would our London Plane trees have become too one species in a street, Ealing favours a streets look stark and empty without large. This can lead to roots damaging mix of approximately six species any trees but their shapes and colours pavements, drains and services and can offering colour, quality, flower, fruit, soften the urban brick and concrete, as cause subsidence. Excessive leaf fall disease resistance and the optimum well as providing a range of blocks gutters and drains and over- canopy for the location. For lower environmental benefits, which are sized trees throw shadow over houses. maintenance, there is a preference for often underestimated. Trees play a Thanks to the Society’s regular dialogue trees with pyramidal growth that do not major part in the ecosystem; contribute with the councils, there is now a three- require crown reduction. In fact, year inspection programme in place for Ealing’s strategy is to plant trees that both boroughs following which trees can be allowed to grow to their full will be pruned or replaced, as height and then be felled and replaced necessary. Ealing carried out their over a 50-year cycle. Hounslow is survey in Autumn 2016, replaced felled reviewing Ealing’s preferred tree list trees and pruned others, while some and has advised that they will show us work to reinstate some of the tree pits their revised list of species once it is is ongoing. The next pruning is ready. scheduled for Autumn/Winter 2019. The Society is committed to continuing Hounslow commissioned a new survey to work closely with both councils to this summer and pruning is now ensure trees are well maintained and expected in response to this. Wherever the right species selected to enhance possible, felling of trees should be our streets and open spaces. We are avoided since it takes many years for a keen to encourage everyone to value new sapling tree to replace the benefits the contribution our trees make to our of a mature tree. environment. After all, a research study Correct species is key in 2015 claimed that amongst many The main species currently planted in health benefits for people who live on the suburb are Lime, Acer, Prunus, Ash, tree-lined streets is the effect of feeling Silver Birch, Hazel and Chestnut but seven years younger! disease of the latter from the leaf- The council tree strategies can be found mining moth has caused early leaf loss, on their respective websites. Betula (Silver Birch) Bedford Park Journal Autumn/Winter 2017 5 Vive la différence

Around 30 prototypes of house designs A walk round Bedford Park reveals a were originally developed for Bedford stunning selection of front porches and Park and the suburb’s different hoods. From the simpler wooden hoods architects produced a variety of to the more elaborate porches with decorative features as well as house mouldings, mullioned or stained glass styles. Set off against the red brick and windows, there is much to celebrate. tile of our homes, the many Most of the examples illustrated are architectural details such as fencing, attributed to R N Shaw, while the balcony balustrades, chimneys and porches top right and far right (second ornamental brickwork, stained glass, row) are thought to be by E J May who door hoods and rustic porches had worked in Shaw's studio/office contribute to a wonderful diversity. prior to becoming the Estate architect. 6 Bedford Park Journal Autumn/Winter 2017

Bedford Park’s department store Opened in 1880 with nine different departments, The Stores survived until competition forced closure in 1899

By the middle of 1879, enough houses had been built and Bath Road building to the land reserved for the railway and occupied in Bedford Park for a community to develop and part-way round the bend in Flanders Road. A new dispatch indeed its first communal facility, the Club, was opened in room was included and there was also mention of livery April of that year. It was still, however, a very isolated stables offering a selection of cabs and other horse-drawn “colony”, to use the description favoured by the early vehicles. inhabitants, with the only real access being by road from Chiswick High Road via Turnham Green Terrace or by rail via Turnham Green Station. There were both a need and a sufficiently large market to make the provision of The Stores a reasonable business proposition. The early days of The Stores The building constructed to house The Stores was part of a seven-gabled range at the west end of Bath Road, which also contained The Tabard hotel-cum-public house and a house, 2 Bath Road, for the manager of The Stores. The published design shows only the façade of The Stores, still much the same today, and does not show that, from the first, it had a substantial single-storey rear wing. Built by Jonathan Thomas Carr, the founder of Bedford Park, the leases for the Stores building and 2 Bath Road were assigned on 29 September 1880 to his youngest brother, Richardson Carr. It appears that it was under his nominal ownership that The Stores Ordnance Survey Map based on 1893 data, showing The Stores after the 1881 expansion. Reproduced with kind permission of the Ordnance commenced operations, although a manager was employed Survey to supervise the business day-by-day. By late 1882, the weekly advertisements included the Apparently open by early May 1880, The Stores began to information that delivery was free, and listed house advertise weekly from 23 October in the Acton Gazette . It is decorating as one of the services available. By April 1884, described as having nine departments, selling fresh meat, they stated that deliveries were being made daily as far fish and milk; groceries, fruit, vegetables and ale; tobacco away as Acton, Kew, Hammersmith, and Kensington. products; wines and spirits; a coal order office; ironmongery; stationery and books; drugs; china and glass; and furniture, The Stores under Mary Eliza Richardson upholstery, and drapery. Mary Eliza Richardson (1847-1937) a prominent early The Stores developed steadily for its first few years and from resident of Bedford Park who seems to have been very mid-February 1881 its advertisements assured customers capable but somewhat impetuous and headstrong, probably that an asphalt path had now been laid from Turnham Green became associated with The Stores as early as 1881, when station, a development which throws an interesting light on she acquired the first lease of what is now 10 South Parade the state of the footpaths in Bedford Park at the time. By the and its extensive stables (now 37 The Orchard), collectively middle of the year, The Stores advertised that its new known as The Canaries. The Canaries Livery and Bait Stables, extension was now complete, extending along the as it was known, undoubtedly operated as part of The Stores. boundaries of the site, which stretched from the back of the In February 1886 she became the licence holder. Bedford Park Journal Autumn/Winter 2017 7

The Stores and the Tabard, from the Building News of 2 January 1880. Local Studies Collection, Chiswick Library

A description of how The Stores operated at this time is also influenced by her forthcoming purchase of a house in provided by an 1885 court case in which one Walter Ashford, Cornwall, Mary Eliza Richardson decided to attract new foreman of the grocery department, was found guilty of capital by forming a limited company. attempting to steal a tin of peaches and a bottle of syrup. It In June 1891 Miss Richardson sold her business to The was explained in court that the defendant had bought two Bedford Park Stores Limited for £18,000, of which £3,000 pennyworth of sand for which he had paid and for which he was in cash and the rest in shares, making her, in practice, had received “a sort of delivery note or receipt. ” The cashier the major shareholder. She continued to act as Managing had kept a copy, without which he could not obtain delivery Director, albeit somewhat at arm’s length. Then, in 19 June 1893, the company passed a Special Resolution, confirmed on 5 July 1893, to wind itself up voluntarily. In December 1893, the liquidators reported that, despite the heavy losses sustained by the old company, the business had been operating at a profit under their stewardship, and that there seemed to be the basis of a viable business. Many of the creditors and shareholders of the existing company supported the proposal, and the Court approved the petition to transfer the assets and liabilities to a new company. Retaining the name The Bedford Park Stores Limited, the company lasted somewhat longer than the first one had done, but ultimately proved to be no more successful. On 24 November 1899 the company resolved that its liabilities were such that it could not continue in business, and should be wound up. The Stores disappeared ignominiously leaving the premises empty.

The Stores building today Despite its financial troubles, The Stores had a sufficiently good reputation for one of its former employees, the of the goods purchased. Mr Slater, the Manager, had become upholsterer Frank Ravilious, to advertise his connection with suspicious of a parcel addressed to the defendant at his it when he set up in business on his own in 1893. Frank home address, and ordered it to be examined, whereupon it Ravilious was the father of the artist Eric Ravilious and a was found to contain the extra items, which had been added member of the Ravilious family which ran a clothing store in to the delivery note. Apart from describing the purchasing Acton well into the twentieth century. procedure, this story indicates that even small purchases were delivered to customers. The full version of this article by David Budworth, Historical Adviser to the Society, appeared in the Brentford & Chiswick Competition and closure Local History Journal No 25, available for purchase from By late 1888, the street directories of the time show that Chiswick Public Library, price £5. A fuller account of the history rival shops had opened up in Turnham Green Terrace, of The Stores, with detailed references, is given in DWB Notes originally a residential street, and nearby on Chiswick High on Bedford Park History No.124, of which copies have been Road. Possibly prompted by this development but probably deposited in Chiswick and Ealing Libraries. 8 Bedford Park Journal Autumn/Winter 2017 New planning expertise on board

This year the Society’s expertise in planning has been new Opera Pavilion at Wormsley for the Garsington Opera, the Island Pavilion at further boosted with two highly regarded architectural Wormsley, new front-of-house facilities experts joining Chair, Carol Woolner, as members of the at the London Coliseum for ENO and, latterly, some new almshouses for the Planning Committee. We are delighted to be able to charity of St Martin-in-the-Fields. benefit from their extensive experience and knowledge He has taught and lectured widely at of architecture, planning and historic buildings. schools of architecture in the UK, Europe, North America and Japan, and his work has been published in the UK Commenting on joining the Society’s and overseas. An avid cricket lover, he is Charles Planning Committee, Charles said: an active member of the MCC Estates Wagner “Living in a ‘sub-Queen-Anne-Revival’ Committee at Lord’s, involved in a house in Barons Court, I am aware of comprehensive programme of BSc DipTP, MA, the importance of Bedford Park in the development in order to maintain its IHBC, MRTPI, FSA, history of the ‘domestic revival’ and the status as the ‘number one cricket FRSA creation of garden suburbs. I hope I can ground in the world.’ Charles has help make a contribution to helping Explaining his decision to become a 38 years’ ensure Bedford Park and its buildings member of the Society’s Planning experience in heritage and planning. are conserved, by advising on planning Committee, Bill said: “I have lived in a From 1986 to 2015 his roles at English and listed building consent Conservation Area in Acton for over 30 Heritage included developing historic applications.” years. As a ‘modern’ architect, my areas work and the public realm advice interest lies in how the requirements of in London, and Head of Planning and William contemporary living and contemporary Urban Advice. During this time he architecture can be successfully helped draft parts of the National Taylor integrated into and actually enhance attractive, historic and culturally Planning Policy Framework and its DipArch, MA, Planning Practice Guidance, as well as significant environments such as RIBA, FRSA the recent Historic England Good Bedford Park.’’ Practice Advice Notes on setting and Bill has been Long-serving members of the Planning heritage in local plans. Charles has also responsible for a Committee, George Butlin and Charles produced or contributed to advice wide range of Lawrence, retired this year having covering conservation areas. award-winning projects that have contributed much time and expertise As part of a wide portfolio, Charles is received national and international over very many years. We are currently a Design Council Commission recognition. His large projects include enormously grateful for their for Architecture and the Built the Inland Revenue Centre in contribution and delighted that George Environment (CABE) Built Environment Nottingham and the National Tennis Butlin has agreed to continue to serve Expert; on the Design South East Panel; Centre for the LTA in Roehampton. He on the Ealing Advisory Panel for the Hammersmith & Fulham Design has also worked in highly sensitive Bedford Park. Panel and the Place Alliance. He is heritage settings and with listed The Society is invited to comment on President of the Association for Studies buildings, including the restoration and new planning applications in the in the Conservation of Historic extension of Charles Barry’s Grade 1 Conservation Area but all decisions to Buildings, a Trustee of the Society for Manchester Gallery. grant or refuse a planning application Protection of Ancient Buildings and Co- After graduating from the University of are taken by the relevant local authority. Chair of the Heritage Alliance’s Spatial Sheffield, Bill joined the practice of The committee’s help is available to Planning Group. He has his own Michael and Patty Hopkins, becoming a members who live within the consultancy and works for another. He partner in 1988 after his first “start to conservation area and members are chairs his local cemetery’s “Friends of” finish” building, the Mound Stand at encouraged to contact the Society prior group, and is helping to establish Lord’s Cricket Ground. In 2011 he to making planning applications. To Neighbourhood Planning in West established a small practice with his contact the Society email: London. partner Robin Snell. Projects include the [email protected]. Bedford Park Journal Autumn/Winter 2017 9

Our Member E-news and new website now provide regular updates covering our work on street and infrastructure RECENT ACTIVITIES issues and have replaced the printed information previously distributed. Hounslow new Resident Parking BT cabinet by St Michaels – alerting As a reminder, a brief summary of tariffs – responding to consultation the Hounslow Conservation Officer to some of the main areas tackled by the on charges for electric and diesel cars resolve the issue of the new cabinet Society over the last six months is and households with more than one installed without planning permission car listed below. You can find the latest Heathrow Third Runway – providing a information about these issues on our Street trees – monitoring tree pruning summary to help members submit website: www.bedfordpark.org.uk. and planting through regular dialogue responses to the Consultation and Heritage lighting – working to resolve with both councils, and agreeing a list submitting a full response from the the issue of incorrect height street of suitable replacement street trees Society lighting columns installed by Replacement paving – requesting Proposed Cycle Superhighway 9 – Hounslow Highways Hounslow Highways improve the alerting members to TfL’s German Bierfest on Acton Green – quality of new paving and minimise consultation, submitting questions monitoring the proposals and the use of tarmac about traffic modelling and a formal submission providing the only local RingGo for visitor parking in Ealing – representation at a meeting with the carrying out a members’ survey to organiser gauge the level of opinion

Carr family album

Until very recently, the only known image of Jonathan Thomas Carr (1845-1915), the founder of Bedford Park, has been the relief portrait on the memorial to him attached to St Michael and All Angels. The source of this may have been an oil portrait by Lance Calkin, which was one of the items sold in the auction of the contents of the Bedford Park Club ( now the Buddhist Vihara) after its closure in 1939, and whose present whereabouts are unknown. This portrait appears in very small size and poor resolution in the background of a 1933 black and white photograph of the interior of the Club. However, in May this year a member of the Carr family who contacted the Bedford Park Society to purchase some publications, provided a copy of a photograph of Jonathan Thomas at the age of 19 taken in 1865 (shown above right). Photographs of Carr’s mother and his siblings dating back to the 1860s were given to the Society’s co-founder, Tom Greeves, by another family member and perfectly capture the setting of a Victorian portrait studio. Shown right is Catherine Grace Carr (née Comyns), wife of Jonathan Carr and mother of Jonathan Thomas Carr. The children (far right) are Sarah and Richardson, then aged around ten and five respectively. 10 Bedford Park Journal Autumn/Winter 2017

I. THE EXHIBITION

The 1967 Architectural Exhibition This exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the architectural exhibition mounted as part of the first Bedford Park Festival in 1967. Although something of a late addition to the Festival and very modestly featured in the published programme, the architectural exhibition was attended by Arthur Grogan, the Inspector of the relevant Ministry, who was sufficiently impressed by the case implicitly put forward fofor the preservation of Bedford Park that he almost immediately secured agreement for the listing of the majority of its original houses. From this decision has stemmed a remarkable revival in the fortunes of the suburb.

No catalogue was produced of the exhibition, but it was professionally photographed. The catalogue included here is a simplified version of one compiled in 2004 by the organiser of this exhibition from that photographic record.

Thomas Affleck “Tom” Greeves 1917−2017 The exhibition was the work of Tom Greeves and was mounted in the name of the Bedford Park Society of which he had been co-fofounder in 1963. Tom had been campaigning as an individual for some years before that for the preservation of Bedford Park, and it is a happy coincidence that this year marks the centenary of his birth on 4 June 1917. A photographic portrait of him appears on the far right.

Throughout his years of campaigning, Tom was staunchly supported by his self-f-effffafacing wife Eleanor. She contributed the very useful map of Bedford Park which appeared as an endpaper in the 1999 edition of Tom’s Bedfdfofordrd PaPark − ththe fifirst gardrden suburb. Not the least of her contributions was, after his death, to organise and list much of the archival material relating to Bedford Park which he had collected, and to I.2 Eleanor Greeves (1924-2015) at the Bedfoford Park Society stall on Green Day,y, 2007. I.1 Portrait of T A Greeves (1917-1997) c.1974. deposit it in Chiswick Library. Before her death in 2015, Sandra Grant Collection Richard Davies, by courtesy of the late Eleanor Greeves she donated the material to the Bedford Park Society. 50th anniversary A photograph of her appears on the right. 1 Jonathan Carr Themes of the 1967 Exhibition 1 Memorial plaque, St Michael’s Church The 1967 exhibition illustrated the historyry and special 2 (Early history) 1 The Adams map nature of Bedford Park, not much appreciated at the time 2 Bedford House: but well documented since. More significantly, it laid i The pediment emphasis on the threats posed to the integrity of the area by ii Pre-Bedfoford Park watercolour unsympathetic developments of major sites, and by the iii OS 25” map, 1871 degradation of its special architectural details. 3 The First Houses 1876: Godwin, Coe and Robinson 1 Godwin design which attracted Carr’s attention 2 Godwin design fofor semi-detached houses 3 Coe and Robinson design fofor semi-detached houses 4 Godwin design fofor corner houses 5 1 The Avenue (design 4) 6 1 The Avenue 7 35 Woodstock Road (modified design 4) 1963

4b Architect: R Norman Shaw 1 RNS third design fofor semi-detached houses 2 RNS fifirst design for detached house 3 RNS second design fofor detached house of listing 4 16,18 Priory AvAvenue 5 5 Queen Anne’s Gardens 1963 6 RNS: semi-detached houses with Dutch gables. 7 24-30 The Avenue 8 6 Bedfoford Road 1963 9 5 Prioryry Gardens 1963 10 20,22 Priory Avenue 1947

10 Bedfoford Park Club by E J May 1 Design fofor Club 2 Club photographed by Bedford Lemere 1881 3 Interior view This year marked the 50th anniversary of the

5 1880 Nos 12 and 14 Newton Grove designed by Maurice B Adams 1 Portrait of M B Adams 2 Design drawing of the houses 3 Plan and window detail 4 Houses as originally built listing of 356 buildings in Bedford Park – the 5 Houses in 1963 6 Houses from the south

6 Early Photographs 1 Bedford Road with the Tower House, 1881 2 Church and Tabard Inn, 1881 3 Watercolour of Bedford Park under construction, 20.03.1877

7 Other Houses 1 21 Priory AvAvenue 2 11 South Parade and 14 The Orchard 3 14,13,12, and part of 11 South Parade 4 9 Queen Anne’s Gardens decision that led to the preservation of our 5 Drawings of 14 South Parade 6 Drawings of 14 South Parade beautiful garden suburb and ensured its continuing appeal today.

In the early 1960s the architectural Society’s first patron. Although the English Heritage), was persuaded by legacy of Jonathan Carr and his Society grew to 200 members in its first Greeves to come and see the exhibition architects appeared gravely threatened year and lobbied hard, Greeves was and left p romisin g t o do what he could by demolitions and general decay; aware that the only real protection for to secure listing. some two thirds of the houses were by Bedford Park lay in statutory listing for In July 1967, Grogan’s recommendation one calculation in multiple occupation. the buildings. The demolition of a Norman Shaw for the statutory Grade II listing of 356 As part of the Society’s campaign house at 13 Bedford Road and the buildings in Bedford Park was approved during 1966 to save one of the finest construction of a flat roof, yellow brick by the Ministry, leading to the suburb houses, No 1 Marlborough Crescent, old people’s home, the antithesis of the being made a conservation area by Greeves showed Arthur Grogan of the suburb’s steep roofs, red tiles and Ealing and Hounslow councils in 1969 Greater London Historical Buildings gables, prompted the formation of the and 1970 respectively. This marked the Division around the area. Grogan was a Bedford Park Society. end of the period of gradual passionate lover of late 19th century dilapidation of the area as new owners The Society was formed in 1963 by two architecture and works of art, and attracted by the heritage and sense of local residents: Harry Taylor, a although he was unable to save No 1 community of the area began moving in community activist, and Tom Greeves, Marlborough Crescent, the visit sparked and to restore the houses, with the conservationist and architect, with John his interest in Bedford Park. Bedford Park Society providing Betjeman agreeing to become the The breakthrough came in 1967, when, guidance through their publications as part of the first Bedford Park Festival, and their comments on planning Not a member? the Society mounted an applications. exhibition: “The Art and Architecture of We work for everyone in the Bedford In June this year, the Society mounted a Bedford Park, 1875-1900.” Greeves had Park community, whether you live in commemorative exhibition curated by been co-opted onto the festival a listed building, the conservation Dr David Budworth MBE, the Society’s committee and, realising the event area or any of the adjoining roads. Historical Adviser, as part of the 2017 could provide an opportunity to Join the Society and help us Golden Jubilee Bedford Park Festival. promote the campaign for listing, conserve our wonderful architectural organised the exhibition based on his Many visitors were able to enjoy the heritage, improve our amenities and photographs of Bedford Park. exhibition in St Michael and All Angels environment, and represent These captured the empty site for No 1 and at the Jubilee Garden Party. residents’ interests. Details from: Marlborough Crescent and www.bedfordpark.org.uk; A digital record of the 2017 exhibition demonstrated both the quality and the [email protected] or can be found on the Society’s website plight of other buildings. Arthur Grogan, Membership Secretary, 23 Blenheim www.bedfordpark.org.uk under “Bedford now an inspector with the Historic Road, W4 1UB. Park.” Buildings Council (the predecessor of Bedford Park Journal Autumn/Winter 2017 11 Arts and Crafts tiles

The “Bedford Park Daisy” tile can be seen in a new gallery showcasing the beautiful ceramics and paintings of leading Arts and Crafts couple William and Evelyn De Morgan.

The National Trust rescued the De Morgan collection, which was without a permanent exhibition space, housing it at Wightwick Manor just outside Wolverhampton, from May this year. The De Morgan Foundation holds the most extensive collection of works created by William De Morgan, renowned for his lustre glazes and Islamic influenced decoration, together with paintings by his wife, Evelyn.

William De Morgan, a friend of William Morris, supplied tiles to many properties in Bedford Park including the Bedford Park Daisy (produced in 1898) and Bedford Park Anemone patterns, which were specially designed for the suburb. The tile patterns were very popular and were produced for a period of 35 years in different colourways with the daisy pattern made in yellow, blue and manganese, as well as ruby lustre. Most Bedford Park houses originally featured interior tiles – usually around the fireplace – with very distinctive, colourful designs. Sadly, many of the tiles were removed in the years before properties were listed but a number of specialist companies continue to make them and some will even hand paint commissions to reproduce classic Arts and Crafts designs that are no longer in regular production.

Photographs supplied by Victorian Ceramics. www.victorianceramics.com 12 Bedford Park Journal Autumn/Winter 2017 Spotlight on a local resident Cecilia McDowall Long-standing resident, Cecilia McDowall, is a renowned How important is your environment to you when you’re composing? Do you composer. She has won many awards and been short-listed work from home? eight times for the British Composer Awards. Yes, I do work at home and have such lovely, long-suffering neighbours who In 2014 Cecilia won the Choral have offered no grumbles about the category of the British Composer noise I inevitably make when Awards for her haunting work, “Night composing. Flight,” which celebrates the What do you like most about living in pioneering flight of the American Bedford Park? aviatrix, Harriet Quimby, across the English Channel. Her distinctive style I love the Bedford Park architecture and speaks directly to listeners, its history, the trees, especially turning instrumentalists and singers alike. Her gold in the autumn, and the warm most characteristic works fuse fluent friendships I have made through our melodic lines with occasional dissonant children and music. I love the strong harmonies and rhythmic exuberance. sense of community here, especially Her music has been commissioned and around the time of the Bedford Park performed by leading choirs, including Festival and the excellent Chiswick the BBC Singers, The Sixteen, Book Festival. ensembles, and at festivals worldwide. Do you have any spare time to become “Three Latin Motets” were recorded by involved in any local community renowned American choir, Phoenix activities? Chorale, winning a Grammy award for their Chandos recording. Although it is such a long time ago, I Seven years later, when our son was 11 greatly enjoyed my time on the Bedford Upcoming commissions include works months old, we moved just around the Park Festival committee; it was all very for the National Children’s Choir of corner into our present home. different then in the late seventies, Great Britain, King’s College and St Have you done much work on your early eighties! But now, with John’s College, Cambridge, Kansas City house and garden over the years? grandchildren and a 98 year-old Chorale and a Requiem for the mother, the balance between work and Wimbledon Choral Society. Cecilia is We bought our house from a family offers challenges, albeit really currently ‘composer-in-residence’ at formidable landlady who had been enjoyable ones. Dulwich College, London. In 2013 she running three bedsits, all showing received an Honorary Doctorate in alarming signs of disintegration. She Music from the University of had stripped out all the original Portsmouth and earlier this year Cecilia features; fireplaces, coving, doors, the Written and published by The Bedford Park was selected for an Honorary Fellow lot, and given her house that “fifties” Society, 10 Blenheim Road, London W4 1UA award by the Royal School of Church featureless look. So we put all the Registered charity no 288204 Music. “original” fittings back in again, re- © Bedford Park Society 2017 No material wiring and re-plumbing as we went. I may be reproduced without prior When did you move to Bedford Park and really love gardening (especially when I permission from the Society what brought you here? have a deadline to finish) and though Designed and produced by olleydesign.com I “married” into Bedford Park. My the garden is not large I like to squeeze Cover photograph by Ellen Rooney. husband was already living in as much as I can into it; clematis, roses www.ellenrooney.com Woodstock Road when we met, a very and geraniums all tumble together www.bedfordpark.org.uk long time ago now, forty-one years. (along with the bindweed!).