7-18 Milton Court

Block of twelve flats built in 1954-5 by architect Eric Lyons for Bargood Estates Ltd, subsequently Span Developments Ltd. Geoffrey Paulson Townsend was the developer, G Scroble the project architect, and Wates the builders. The flats are constructed with brick cross- and partition walls, concrete, 'Eternit' block and tile hanging, with flat felted roofs.

The twelve flats are set in three linked ranges, each containing four flats, with a brick stack positioned at the end of each range. Nos. 7-10 and Nos. 11-14 each comprise six bays, while Nos. 15-18 comprise five bays, with the ranges divided by the exposed ends of the crosswalls. Each block has a central entrance way and staircase.

The main facades feature full-width windows with three square panes per bay, some with top-opening casements. The storeys are divided by tile-hanging, and some windows have green blind panels. The road-facing (north) facades have large plate glass windows to the right of each entrance, divided by a horizontal panel bearing original signage to the blocks. A two-light staircase window and louvres are positioned above. The rear facade similarly has a two-light staircase window and louvres to the ground-floor entrance bay, with a comparable arrangement of windows to the north facade, except that all ground-floor flats have French doors opening onto gardens.

All staircases are of terrazzo with steel balustrading; the first flight and first-floor landing are inset with timber panels, and doors to stores have coloured glass. The interiors originally had timber floors and some had sliding living room partitions, though these have not been formally inspected.

Eric Lyons and Geoffrey Townsend first met in the late 1930s and renewed their partnership after the Second World War, developing a number of small private schemes across south west London and the north Surrey borders. In 1954, Townsend established himself as a developer and relinquished his RIBA membership. This scheme was their first mature collaborative work and the first undertaken as Span Developments Ltd. The flats were built on the site of a former nursery, and the development was deliberately laid out to preserve existing trees; the nursery stock and its gardener were retained as part of the scheme.

The blocks are arranged as a series of cul-de-sacs, with most set out as squares and terraces. The combination of two- and three-storey blocks is distinctive to Parkleys, while the mixture of brick and tile hanging was subsequently repeated in later Span works, particularly at Blackheath. The combination of traditional materials used in a modern manner created an environment of particular humane quality, which attracted considerable admiration. The layout of squares and terraces represented a modern vernacular response to the Georgian tradition of central London, set within lush suburban landscaping yet at relatively high densities of approximately 80 persons per acre, a density that frequently placed Span in dispute with planning authorities.

Parkleys was developed for first-time buyers, and Span was among the first companies to promote the endowment mortgage. The scheme also established the residents' management company system that became standard practice for Span developments and has been instrumental in maintaining most of their schemes in exceptional condition. Each leaseholder contributes to funding for paid maintenance staff and holds membership in the management company responsible for running the estate.