Garden Tour: An Idyllic Communal Garden Landscaped Around Ancient Trees
This award-winning, midcentury-built housing complex on the outskirts of London is as interesting on the outside as it is on the inside
The Templemere Estate in Surrey was designed in 1963 by Eric Lyons & Partners for developer Span Housing. The company built 30 distinctive housing complexes, mainly in and around south London, between 1948 and 1984, and these are now much in demand by fans of midcentury modern architecture, as much for their spacious, light-filled interiors as for their thoughtfully landscaped communal gardens.
Templemere is considered to be one of the best-maintained examples of a Span estate. A year after it was built, it gained a Civic Trust Award for its “outstanding contribution to the local scene”. Its gardens, which are now managed and maintained by the Templemere Residents Committee according to the original 1960s planting plans, are founded on parkland landscaped in the 18th century, and include woodlands and a lake.
Templemere is considered to be one of the best-maintained examples of a Span estate. A year after it was built, it gained a Civic Trust Award for its “outstanding contribution to the local scene”. Its gardens, which are now managed and maintained by the Templemere Residents Committee according to the original 1960s planting plans, are founded on parkland landscaped in the 18th century, and include woodlands and a lake.
Apart from one or two “magnificent” (and now protected) trees, Baxter explains, most of it was wasteland. “There were the ruins of the great house that once stood on the site, and 12 acres of scrubland and loads of old tyres that had been slung over the fence of the petrol station. The great trees were being stifled by self-seeded sycamores and brambles.”
Lyons’ company bought the site and developed it into Templemere – so named because there was a folly temple still standing in the grounds of the former house, overlooking Broad Water Lake, or ‘mere’.
“When they bought the estate,” continues Baxter, “they took out the sycamore, brambles and tyres, but left the great trees and built the estate around them.” Eric Lyons’ business partner, Ivor Cunningham, was responsible for the landscaping of the site, and Preben Jakobsen worked on the scheme. “The architecture and style of the landscape are indivisible,” Baxter adds.
“When they bought the estate,” continues Baxter, “they took out the sycamore, brambles and tyres, but left the great trees and built the estate around them.” Eric Lyons’ business partner, Ivor Cunningham, was responsible for the landscaping of the site, and Preben Jakobsen worked on the scheme. “The architecture and style of the landscape are indivisible,” Baxter adds.
“As well as respecting these wonderful specimen trees,” Baxter says, “[Cunningham and Jakobsen] kept almost a third of the plot still as woodland.”
Discover 12 surprising facts about UK gardens and what we do in them
Discover 12 surprising facts about UK gardens and what we do in them
“A lot of the reasoning behind that was pragmatic – it would have been very expensive to develop the land, as it slopes steeply,” Baxter says.
Interestingly, however, at the time the parkland was landscaped, the slope was designed to provide a vista across to the lake. The trees grew later, as nature took over the site.
Baxter describes the design as very “vista-centric. It’s a succession of viewpoints – some very bijou and some very broad ones.” It’s a nod to the 18th century landscaped parkland, designed very much around such vistas.
Read about the connection between Templemere and 18th century garden designer Capability Brown
Interestingly, however, at the time the parkland was landscaped, the slope was designed to provide a vista across to the lake. The trees grew later, as nature took over the site.
Baxter describes the design as very “vista-centric. It’s a succession of viewpoints – some very bijou and some very broad ones.” It’s a nod to the 18th century landscaped parkland, designed very much around such vistas.
Read about the connection between Templemere and 18th century garden designer Capability Brown
This image shows a view from the woodland and lake area back to the houses. Baxter says there’s space for around 200 houses, yet only 65 were built. The sense of space was key to the 1960s design vision.
“Wherever possible, we replace failing, overgrown specimens with similar,” says Baxter, “but in some cases, for example where overhanging trees have grown too big and the area has become shady, we try to use something else from the approved planting scheme.”
“Wherever possible, we replace failing, overgrown specimens with similar,” says Baxter, “but in some cases, for example where overhanging trees have grown too big and the area has become shady, we try to use something else from the approved planting scheme.”
Ground-cover plants are a repeated feature across the gardens. Under this tree is some ornamental ivy. Other plants and ground cover used in the gardens include: hypericum; Lavandula ‘Hidcote’ (lavender); Taxus baccata (yew); galtonia; camassia; senecio; pyracantha; euonymus and vinca, another ground-cover plant. “Preben’s dream was to cover the world in vinca,” Baxter laughs.
He says some of the Span estates follow the original planting plans religiously, and at Templemere the Residents’ Committee has done its best. “We’re all respectful and mindful of what it’s about, but the reality is that the climate has changed and we’ve lost some grand trees in storms, which changes the vistas. But overall, it’s been pretty lovingly maintained in line with the original design.”
He says some of the Span estates follow the original planting plans religiously, and at Templemere the Residents’ Committee has done its best. “We’re all respectful and mindful of what it’s about, but the reality is that the climate has changed and we’ve lost some grand trees in storms, which changes the vistas. But overall, it’s been pretty lovingly maintained in line with the original design.”
“The planting features hardly any flowers: this is a key part of the design aesthetic,” Baxter continues. “I think the designers were thinking of plants as sculptural, as opposed to a series of species – using them to reveal surprises and make shapes.”
One of the few flowering plants to feature is Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, seen here. Other shrubs include: Symphoricarpos (snowberry); phormium; amelanchier; Sambucus nigra ‘Aurea’; Hydrangea petiolaris; Elaeagnus angustifolia; Cornus stolonifera; Cornus mas; pampas grass; buddleia; veronica; berberis; pyracantha; laurel and rhododendron.
One of the few flowering plants to feature is Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, seen here. Other shrubs include: Symphoricarpos (snowberry); phormium; amelanchier; Sambucus nigra ‘Aurea’; Hydrangea petiolaris; Elaeagnus angustifolia; Cornus stolonifera; Cornus mas; pampas grass; buddleia; veronica; berberis; pyracantha; laurel and rhododendron.
Pictured are some of the silver birch trees in the gardens. “Silver birch is something you see on a lot of Span estates,” Baxter says. “The colour schemes and textures of the houses reflect the silver birch. The front of each house features smooth white and rough black brick – just like the rough black and smooth white of the trees.”
Other trees planted either in the 1960s or more recently at Templemere include: Robinia pseudoacacia; tree of heaven; holly; mountain ash; honey locust and a few ornamental cherry trees. There were also existing silver birch trees retained when the site was developed by Span, along with ancient sequoias, cedars and sycamores.
Other trees planted either in the 1960s or more recently at Templemere include: Robinia pseudoacacia; tree of heaven; holly; mountain ash; honey locust and a few ornamental cherry trees. There were also existing silver birch trees retained when the site was developed by Span, along with ancient sequoias, cedars and sycamores.
This image shows the front door of one of the houses, photographed in the spring and shaded by cherry blossom.
Templemere was used as a filming location during the 1960s for the children’s sci-fi puppet television show Joe 90, directed by Gerry Anderson, MBE, creator of Thunderbirds and resident on the estate at the time. More recently, the Channel 4 show, Misfits, had scenes filmed at Templemere.
Templemere was used as a filming location during the 1960s for the children’s sci-fi puppet television show Joe 90, directed by Gerry Anderson, MBE, creator of Thunderbirds and resident on the estate at the time. More recently, the Channel 4 show, Misfits, had scenes filmed at Templemere.
“Span Developments was the first to create communal gardens like this for ordinary houses, where the inside/outside element – ie, one as a continuum of the other – was so important,” Baxter says. “[The company] also thought about the landscape as something you could use, not just as something to walk across.
“Front gardens here are officially part of the communal parkland,” Baxter adds. “I think it takes a special kind of person to give up that ‘Englishman’s castle’ attitude to your front garden.” And he loves the effect the communal gardens have on life at Templemere.
He highlights the woodland as a feature that particularly encourages community spirit. “We have ‘woods days’ once every month, where everyone gets together and does a little woods husbandry, which ends in a barbecue and we all get to chat. [A professional gardener helps to maintain the landscaped areas.] You also see people go down in the mornings with their dogs, or in the evenings in little groups with a bottle of wine.”
He says it’s especially good for children. “My kids are growing up seeing woodpeckers and grass snakes. We also have ‘our’ fox; he’s not nicking from our bins, he’s eating stuff that lives in the woods. It’s amazing really when you consider how built up we are round here. He listens to the radio with us. And our cats have a very varied diet!”
“Front gardens here are officially part of the communal parkland,” Baxter adds. “I think it takes a special kind of person to give up that ‘Englishman’s castle’ attitude to your front garden.” And he loves the effect the communal gardens have on life at Templemere.
He highlights the woodland as a feature that particularly encourages community spirit. “We have ‘woods days’ once every month, where everyone gets together and does a little woods husbandry, which ends in a barbecue and we all get to chat. [A professional gardener helps to maintain the landscaped areas.] You also see people go down in the mornings with their dogs, or in the evenings in little groups with a bottle of wine.”
He says it’s especially good for children. “My kids are growing up seeing woodpeckers and grass snakes. We also have ‘our’ fox; he’s not nicking from our bins, he’s eating stuff that lives in the woods. It’s amazing really when you consider how built up we are round here. He listens to the radio with us. And our cats have a very varied diet!”
This view shows a pseudoacacia tree stooping over the main green at Templemere, close to the entrance. “It’s the largest expanse of grass on the estate and it was designed – and is used – as a social gathering place, rather than to be a perfectly manicured, pretty lawn. We’re reviving our Dads and Kids Camping Night soon, which takes place on the green. We also have a family day, with games and cakes and so on, where we use it to put up a big marquee.”
All in all, the gardens are clearly a huge part of what makes this a very special place to live. As Baxter says, “It’s beautiful! Out of one set of windows in our house I’m looking across to the landscaped area – the Jakobsen formal parkland. Then, on the other side, I’m looking down to the woods that slope down to the lake.”
“It feels as if you’re in some idyllic village,” he adds. “We feel very privileged to live here.”
What experience do you have of communal gardens? And what do you like about these? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
What experience do you have of communal gardens? And what do you like about these? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here There are 65 houses on the estate and the gardens are communal
Location Weybridge, Surrey
Garden size This design sits within a 12-acre plot, which includes woodland and a man-made lake; the gardens to houses ratio is roughly 50:50
Property An award-winning Span Estate, designed by Eric Lyons & Partners in 1963
Designer Originally, the late Ivor Cunningham, a Span Landscape Architect; now maintained and managed by the Templemere Residents’ Committee
Templemere resident Matthew Baxter is a former member of the Residents’ Committee, and also the son of Warner Baxter, who worked with Eric Lyons.
“It was my father, in around 1960, who discovered this plot,” Baxter says. “He worked for Eric Lyons, the architect, and was on his way back from a site visit with Preben Jakobsen, a Danish landscape architect who also worked for Eric Lyons. They stopped at a petrol station and, out of curiosity, looked over its fence and saw this site.”