The Twentieth Century Society

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Parkham Wood House, Brixham , Devon, Mervyn Seal , 1960, Grade II

English Heritage took their time over the assessment of this striking 60s house, but the results have been worth the wait. Praising the buildings, form, layout and use of materials, EH have called Parkham Wood a “very interesting example of English domestic architecture that faithfully follows particular aspects of international 1930s architectural idiom and theory, as expressed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier”.  This is a pleasing result, not least because we have here underlined the importance of a hitherto largely unknown, regional architect, who, despite numerous awards for housing , has never previously been given any national recognition. Now that Parkham Wood, the earliest and best survivor of the four houses he designed in the Torbay area, is listed – the Society hopes his national importance will be more widely recognised.

Kennedy’s Sausage Shops: Walworth Road and South Norwood High Street. Founded in Peckham 1877, shop interiors ca 1920s, Grade II

C20 submitted applications for ten shops across southeast London after the family firm closed. Of these, only two were listed for their rare survival of shop signs, fittings and decor, though sadly both have yet to find viable long-term uses. Tragically, most of the unlisted shops have been gutted and re-furbished, but C20 is  pleased to report that the new Brodie’s Tea Shop on Bromley High Street choose to preserve their Art Deco frontage and original decor to create a charming cafe, winning an award from the Bromley Civic Society.

 

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