Bedford Park, London: an exemplary garden suburb

Often called the first garden suburb, Bedford Park served as an exemplary development for the many garden villages and garden suburbs that would follow after 1900.

The housing estate of Bedford Park was named after an estate of the same name that lay adjacent to Acton Green Common just north of Chiswick. The common is now a large expanse of grass bordered by trees that hide the elevated railway that runs alongside on a bank. It is used as a public park by residents. The whole housing estate was designed with streets focusing on the green.

On the edge of the green some amenities were included in the housing plans. There is a row of shops along what was once the edge of the gardens of Bedford Park House (left) and another near the station. These houses all feature Tudor revival architecture. Along the green several large villas were built, as there was an intentional mix of building types.

Some houses were designed to emulate mansions, they are in fact linked family houses.The outline of the roofs with the large chimney stacks recall grand buildings. This was seen as especially fitting in this suburban setting. Before the car the impression would have been rather convincingly rural.

The estate was designed as a whole. So great attention was paid to unifying details like the fences and gates that separated street and garden space. Several types of fence were designed, but all share the overall characteristic of a brick plinth with a white wooden fence on top. Posts can be in wood or in brick. Some of the gates have an ornamental arch in metal. As part of the conservation area status these fences are being restored throughout the estate.

An example of some blocks in what is known as Queen Anne Revival, a nineteenth century reiteration and reworking of the original architecture from the Queen Anne period. The reign of Queen Anne coincided with the baroque era although the architecture was more subdued than for instance contemporary French examples. There is a connection with Dutch Classicism. This is clear in these Queen Anne Revival blocks with shapely gable ends that resemble Dutch Gables. Also note the eclectic combination with the large chimney stacks and the white fence.

The architect Shaw, who was responsible for most of the housing on this estate, is known for popularising Queen Anne Revival, but is actually an eclectic architect who mixed various styles simply for overall effect. This is clear in these houses with bicoloured faced in a combination of white render and red brick, with protruding upper halves.

Some of the architecture was lees ornate and less aimed at creating visual effect. These houses have brick facades with a continuous decorative roof trim in white. Ground floor bay windows create rhythm and add a vernacular flavour, especially in combination with the white fences.

Although most of the housing was built as family housing in two storeys on similar floor plans, some building know a greater height. On the left a double-height building with apartments. The corner window bay was extended into a tower-like feature. Other eclectic houses have a New-England feel with square window bays topped by balconies with wooden railings. These square bays may extend over one or two floors (right).

Shaw was well known for mixing Dutch Classicism with Tudor Revival element, including hanging tiles and timber frame panels. Examples of this Mock-Tudor style may be mixed with buildings in another style creating great visual variation. The floor plans are often similar however. 

The timber frame panels were mostly used on the elevation. The timber is often not structural and merely decorative, as the architect tries to evoke a sense of times gone by and rural architecture. On the left an example with timber frame panels that dominate the protruding elevation and thus the whole facade. The brick support post is a nice detail. The same rural reference can also result in buildings with a combination of render and brick details that contrast a sense of lightness and heaviness (shown on the right).

These blocks are not dissimilar to those of Merton Park as they use the same London stock brick. Here a contrasting upper section that protrudes of a central bay window is dressed with hung tiles in red creating contrast and a more rural effect. The planted streets -with an eclectic mix of species- create the desired semi-rural feel that would inspire the Garden City Movement.