1-211 Lichfield Court And 1-17 Lichfield Terrace

1-211 Lichfield Court and 1-17 Lichfield Terrace, Sheen Road

A residential development of 211 flats arranged in two blocks linked by gates, set above seventeen shops (some now combined). Designed in 1933 and built between 1934 and 1935 by architects Bertram Carter and Sloot. The building is constructed with a partial steel frame, concrete floor slabs that project as balconies with white-painted concrete fronts, red brick walling, and flat roofs. It rises seven storeys, with the lowest storey forming a lower-ground floor on the sloping site and the upper two storeys set back. The style is Art Deco throughout.

Lichfield Court comprises two blocks with a driveway between them leading to rear car parking. The larger block contains flats 1-152 and is a rectangular structure with semi-circular stairwells projecting into the internal courtyard. It has four entrances—one at upper ground level and three at lower-ground level—all served by lifts and stairwells. The flats are accessed by galleries running around the internal courtyard. A boiler house stands behind the south elevation, which has shops (Nos.1-8) on the upper ground floor. The smaller block is U-shaped with shops (Nos.9-17) on its south elevation, a carriage entrance into the inner courtyard at lower-ground level, and one entrance on each ground level. Here too the flats are reached via galleries around the courtyard.

All corners are curved with curved windows. The balcony fronts are curved at one end and have roll-stops where they abut the brickwork at the other. The corners to the entrances project forward, while the rest of the main facades are set back behind the line of the shops. The diagonally opposite corner at the rear of the main block projects similarly forward, as does the centrepiece of each long side wall. Opaque glass screens separate the balcony areas of each flat. All windows are Crittall metal frames with strong horizontal glazing patterns, except for five flats with renewed UPVC windows, four of them discreetly placed at the rear. A conservatory abutting the fifth set at the front corner is of no special interest. Entrances to the block feature ribbed surrounds and keystones with double part-glazed oak doors. The first entrance from the driveway is reached up broad steps with a curved balustrade. Cast-iron railings with strong horizontals lead down to an entrance on the west side, where a carriageway passes under the building into the internal courtyard. This courtyard—and that of the smaller block—is dominated by the concrete balcony fronts and stairwells, which create a strong pattern of horizontal and vertical elements. Their whiteness contrasts sharply with the dark brick of the flats behind. Painted coats of arms decorate the balcony fronts.

A large ribbed cornice sits above the shops. Nos. 1 and 9 Lichfield Terrace retain their original 1930s shopfronts, whose banded upper lights reflect the pattern of the cornice above. These units are prominent and significant as they occupy the corners of each block. The gatepiers are also ribbed, each comprising two linked shafts with a sign reading 'LICHFIELD COURT' fixed above. Art Deco cast-iron gates serve the main carriageway and the west entrance, with separate openings for cars in the centre and pedestrians to the sides.

The entrance halls all feature ribbed architrave surrounds to inner openings leading to lifts and, in the large block, to semi-circular staircases with Art Deco cast-iron balustrades. Similar mouldings form pilaster surrounds to radiators in both blocks, which are set behind Art Deco grilles. The interiors of the individual flats were not inspected.

The internal courtyard of the larger block contains a circular central fountain and service lifts allowing trades access to be separated from that of residents. The block has its own heating system and originally had its own drinking water supply and separate garage.

Lichfield Court was built on the site of Lichfield House and was noted for its convenience to the town centre and for commuting by train. The design was originally conceived as a taller structure entirely of exposed concrete, but a compromise was reached that proved more harmonious with the existing scale of the town. The result is a block of small flats of exceptional quality and completeness, distinguished by elaborate ribbed mouldings and Art Deco details throughout.