Applecourt, garages to the north and mushroom lights in the grounds

Applecourt is a British Modernist housing development comprising two identical three-storey blocks, each containing twelve flats, designed by Eric Lyons for Span Developments Ltd and built between 1959 and 1961. The complex also includes three rows of contemporary garages to the north and aluminium mushroom lights in the grounds.

The two H-shaped blocks are constructed using brick cross-wall construction, with brown brick end walls laid in stretcher bond and tile-hanging on other elevations. Each H-shaped block has staircases positioned in the centre of the crossbar. The blocks are surrounded by carefully maintained communal gardens laid out on a straight diagonal axis, which retain pre-existing apple and pear trees. The blocks are linked by a paved forecourt, and the gardens contain mushroom-topped aluminium lights designed by Lyons for Span.

The long outer elevations facing east and west display a marked horizontal emphasis created by continuous bands of windows alternating with two bands of diamond tile-hanging that separate each floor. The elevations are framed by concrete pilaster strips. The fenestration has been replaced with uPVC but follows the original pattern of large windows, mostly without glazing bars, set flush in the wall. Original windows were centre pivot; the current replacements are top-opening. The deeply recessed balconies have simple tubular rails and inbuilt plant ledges faced with plain horizontal boards painted white. Ground-floor flats have uPVC doors with two glazed panels and floor-to-ceiling picture windows overlooking the communal gardens, replacing the original balconies.

The north and south elevations of the crossbar maintain the horizontal emphasis with wide storey bands painted white. The elevation is divided into three bays: a wide central bay lighting the communal staircases, and outer bays filled with unglazed terracotta louvres made of rectangular hollow tiles, designed to ventilate drying rooms on each landing. Window bays on the entrance elevations receive slightly different treatment. Those facing the central courtyard have four wide transoms to the upper windows and a glazed ground floor. Those facing outward have four vertical windows with top-opening panes on each floor and a ground-floor projection faced in hollow tile louvres, originally designed to house prams. The entrance doors have been replaced with uPVC, but the inner wooden doors to the communal staircases are original. These have five horizontal panels, most containing green glass. The return walls match the treatment of the long outer elevations. The end brick walls are blind.

All three blocks are topped with flat roofs and broad white cornices, though the cornices have been replaced.

In the communal areas, hall and landing floors are laid in grey terrazzo. Storage rooms originally designed for prams retain their original single-glazed windows and lights. The staircases provide access to galleries running east and west past utility rooms to two flats at each end. Straight flight stairs have grey terrazzo treads, a wide teak balustrade, and metal tubular handrails painted white. Wooden doors to the flats are painted blue with two panels of Stippolyte glass, retaining original letter boxes and most original numbers. Adjacent doors to drying rooms on each landing have six horizontal panels of blue glass, with replacements on one door.

The flats share a basic layout consisting of an entrance hall with fitted cupboard, living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, bathroom, and a lobby containing an airing cupboard. The original wall divider between kitchen and living room featured a row of shallow teak-veneer cupboards with a green leatherette top and fixed electric heater. Above this was a glazed panel on the left and a fitted shelving unit with sliding glass doors on the right, designed to demarcate spaces while retaining openness and maximising light. Original kitchen fittings included a larder and white-painted wooden base cabinets, a green leatherette-covered worktop, wall-mounted open teak shelving, a small wall-mounted folding formica table, and teak draining boards flanking a stainless steel sink with arched taps. Original bathroom fittings comprised an enamel bath with black panel and corner taps, black square wall tiles, and a mirror with large chrome-topped screws. Doors leading into the living room from both hall and landing had two large glazed panels; other doors had teak veneer. Door frames incorporated three mouldings on each side. Both bedrooms had fitted wardrobes; those in the smaller room had mirrors on the inside of the door with large chrome-topped screws, while those in the larger bedroom had sliding doors.

Many flats have undergone varying levels of alteration, particularly removal of the wall divider and replacement of kitchen and bathroom fittings. Of twenty-four flats, fourteen have been inspected internally, and sale particulars for two others include interior photographs. Flats 17, 19, 21 and 24 have survived with the least alteration, retaining their wall divider, kitchen, and bathroom (with some limited modifications in each case), along with internal doors, hall cupboard, airing cupboard, and fitted wardrobes. Flats 7 and 14 retain part of their wall divider. Flat 11 retains the original bath, hand basin, and black tiles. In most other inspected flats, some original joinery survives, including doors, door frames, fitted cupboards, and wardrobes, some with mirrors.

To the north of the blocks are three rows of garages totalling nineteen units. They are constructed of brown brick laid in English bond with flat roofs and wooden cornices. In the original garage yard, five garages retain original double-leaf wooden plank doors painted dark blue with strap hinges. Other garage doors have been replaced with up-and-over doors, also painted dark blue. In the north-east row, added slightly later, the up-and-over doors appear to be original, with one replacement.