Thurnby Court, Spencer Road, London TW2

Positioned on the top floor of a beautiful Span estate in Strawberry Hill, this two-bedroom apartment is characterised by a bright, peaceful atmosphere. Span is perhaps the most celebrated of all 20th-century British residential developers, renowned for their outstanding yet simple modern architectural style and considered landscaping. This apartment exemplifies the tenets of their designs, using clean lines and pared-back detailing to create a warm, welcoming home. Thurby Court itself is surrounded by beautiful communal gardens that create a constant feeling of connection with the outdoors - another focus of Span housing.

The Architect

Eric Lyons collaborated closely with Span Developments in the 1950s and 60s to bring the concept of international modernism to the masses. Lyons began his career working under Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius before fusing the fundamental concepts of Gropius and Le Corbusier with the British vernacular to create efficient, bright and practical homes with strong community ties. Although Span Housing is plentiful in the area, it comes to the market infrequently. For more information, see the History section below.

The Tour

This immaculate two-bedroom flat lies within Thurnby Court, an attractive, modern Span block built in 1958 with a distinctive tiled façade. It is a Building of Townscape Merit; the apartments within are comparable to those built at a similar time on the Cator Estate in Blackheath, and at Highsett in Cambridge.

This apartment lies on the top floor, ensuring beautiful views can be enjoyed from its elevated position. The main living spaces are largely open-plan, accessed from a generous hallway with storage space for coats and shoes. Ribbons of glazing run the length of the central living and dining area, flooding the space with light and fostering the sense of connection to the outdoors for which Span is so renowned. The apartment has accents in Farrow & Ball throughout.

The galley kitchen is fully open to the living area, creating a thoroughly sociable space. A grey-painted splashback sits above quartz worktops, with dark slate floors below. A section of the rear wall has been tiled blue to add a dash of colour. Built-in appliances include two Neff ovens and a dishwasher. A window on the rear wall welcomes further light in, rendering the living spaces dual aspect and therefore extremely bright.

The two bedrooms are serene, pared-back spaces with an excellent provision of storage. The main bedroom has a deep wardrobe concealed behind sliding doors, and a second generous wardrobe; the smaller bedroom also has a large built-in wardrobe. Both rooms have beautiful leafy views over the front and rear gardens respectively. The main bedroom is characterised by a rear feature wall painted in a strong navy.

A smart bathroom lies adjacent to the main bedroom. This utilises a clean palette of natural stone tiles that surround a large, built-in bath. There is ample storage here, and also further storage in the hall outside that takes the form of three generous cupboards.

The apartment has access to a shared storage cupboard on the communal landing. There is unallocated off-road parking for one car and a secure bicycle cupboard on the ground floor.

Outdoor Space

Thurnby Court has very well-maintained communal gardens that can be enjoyed by all residents. They wrap around the estate and foster a sense of seclusion; mature trees such as ginkgo and fig give the area a woodland feel, while lawns give residents access to generous shared outdoor space. There is also a bamboo garden, where residents have birthdays and private celebrations.

The Area

Strawberry Hill is a popular residential area in the London Borough of Richmond-Upon-Thames. Teddington and Twickenham high streets are both approximately one mile away. Teddington has a good selection of restaurants, cafés and shops and was named in The Sunday Times as the best place to live in 2021; only a 20-minute stroll away, it is easily accessible and makes for a lovely weekend walk. Twickenham has a range of shops and pubs including a Waitrose and a farmers' market on Saturdays.

Also in the area are the larger shopping areas of Kingston and Richmond, as well as the River Thames at Teddington Lock, with access to the towpath and walking/cycling routes in both directions. One can walk to the river from the apartment in 15 minutes and follow the Thames Path all the way to Richmond. Bushy Royal Park is also close by, next to Hampton Court Palace. Richmond Park is a few miles away.

The local area has plenty of schools, both private and state-run, junior and senior; the apartment is in the catchment area for Waldegrave School, which is consistently named one of the top state schools in the country. All the primary schools in the area are rated either 'good' or 'outstanding'.

Thurnby Court is situated within very close proximity of Strawberry Hill railway station, from where regular services run to London Waterloo in approximately 40 minutes. The flat is also a short drive from the M3 and has good access to the M25 and M4.

Tenure: Share of Freehold
Lease Length: approx. 933 years remaining
Service Charge: approx. £1,800 per annum
Council Tax Band: D