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“Architect Eric Lyons believed landscape was not just the treatment of space left between buildings, but the arrangement of buildings to create spaces” - Historic England
Fieldend in Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, is often considered to be one of the most appealing of Eric Lyons’ Span estates. Built in 1961, this incredibly bright three-bedroom house is positioned at the far end of the five-acre site, overlooking the verdant landscaping for which the estate is so renowned. The house has been extended to introduce a glazed rear section that draws light into the plan, and carefully renovated to preserve the original features. The private, south-facing back garden flows seamlessly from the inside spaces, engendering the quiet sense of retreat from the city that is so loved by Fieldend's residents. This house also has a garage.
Fieldend IV
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History
The development company Span built 30 housing estates across the UK between 1948 and 1984. In his book The Spirit of Span Housing, James Strike says: “Span housing was the inspiration of two young men, who, during the 1930s, met as architectural students at the Regent Street Polytechnic. Eric Lyons and Geoffrey Townsend both had a keen interest in modern architecture… They believed that there was a market for well-designed houses in carefully designed landscapes for the sort of people who recognised good design when they saw it – and they were right.”
In 2006, Span housing was the subject of an exhibition at the RIBA, and the accompanying book, entitled Eric Lyons & Span (ed. Barbara Simms), gives a comprehensive survey of its history. “The work of the architect Eric Lyons,” it states, “is as well-loved now as it was vibrantly successful when first constructed. Built almost entirely for Span Developments, its mission was to provide an affordable environment ‘that gave people a lift’.”
Fieldend was built in 1959–60, in close collaboration with landscape architect Michael Brown. The estate is made up of 51 two-storey houses, a mix of Lyons' T8 and T7 designs. Fieldend soon picked up a number of awards, including a Civic Trust Award and a Housing Gold Award. More recently, Fieldend has been designated a Conservation Area in recognition of its architectural merit and excellent landscaping.
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