This beautiful two-bedroom apartment in Gray Court forms part of the Grade ii-listed Parkleys Estate, built by renowned developers Span in the 1950s. Parkleys was the first project by Span co-founders Eric Lyons and Geoff Townsend and is one of London’s finest residential modernist estates. It is set among beautiful communal gardens planted with flowering trees and expansive stretches of lawn that are much loved by residents. The estate is located in leafy Ham, a pretty suburb with a lovely high street, which sits between Richmond Park and the River Thames in south London. A garage on the estate is available to rent upon request.

The Estate

Span is perhaps the most celebrated of all 20th-century British residential developers. Many of the developments they worked on throughout the south of England are now listed. They are known for their outstanding yet simple modern architectural style and considered landscaping.

Parkleys Estate is an astonishingly well-maintained example of Span's work. It demonstrates many of the tropes that came to define the firm's later style, including a hanging tile façade, ribbon glazing and considered use of ironmongery, signage and colour scheme. For more information, please see the History section below.

The Tour

The apartment is on the first floor of Gray Court. Entry is to a short hallway with plenty of built-in storage, which leads through to the main living spaces. Full-width original windows stretch across the living room, offering a panorama of the treetops that surround the estate. Many original Span features have been retained, including a reeded glass door, and a mahogany shelf in the living room. A wood-burning stove sits on the opposite wall, and cork floors run throughout the apartment, exemplifying the architectural commitment to simplified living.

The kitchen is at the back of the plan. This has been executed with turquoise ply worktop and white cabinetry; there is a butler sink and one wall painted with blackboard paint.

A corridor from the living room leads through to the bedrooms and bathrooms, which have leafy views across the gardens. Original built-in wardrobes provide plenty of storage in the generously proportioned main bedroom. The second bedroom has verdant views over a fig tree. The bathroom has a grey-blue vinyl floor, a bath surrounded by white tiles and mirrored storage flush within the wall; there is further storage under the bath.

The communal areas are of particular note in this estate; they have been impeccably executed with decorative brick, glass and bespoke Span details that have been lovingly maintained. Each apartment has a private external store, and there are communal drying and bike storage rooms.

Outdoor Space

Parkleys, like many Span schemes, is renowned for its expansive meticulously maintained communal gardens that wrap around the estate. Mature flowering trees give the area a woodland feel while the lawns give all residents access to generous outdoor space.

The Area

Ham is a picturesque district in south-west London, located between Richmond and Kingston-upon-Thames. It unfurls around a large, open common and is renowned for the quality of its period architecture, the most notable example of which is Ham House, described by the National Trust as “the most complete survival of 17th-century fashion and power”.

Ham Common Woods Nature Reserve is a five-minute walk away and runs towards the expanse of Richmond Park beyond. There is a parade of shops in Ham, including a monthly farmers’ market, plus wider shopping and dining opportunities in Richmond and Kingston.

Less than a 20-minute drive (or around a 15-minute cycle) away is Twickenham, which we've written in greater depth in our Journal.

Richmond Station is around a 12-minute drive, or 18-minute bus, away, and has both Overground and Underground (District Line) services, in addition to National Rail services into central London. Kingston Station is an 11-minute bus from the house and runs South Western services into the city.

Tenure: Share of Freehold
Lease Length: Approx. 956 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £2,880 per annum
Parking: There is a garage available to rent for £75 per month. There is also unallocated residents parking in the estate
Council Tax Band: D