Delve into
unique housing
from Richmond
to Roehampton
by bike
Join Open City for a special day-long cycling tour, exploring the rich legacy of radical housing surrounding from Richmond to Roehampton
Led by architectural designers Aidan Hall and Roz Peebles, this day-long event takes participants from Richmond to North Sheen and Ham before ending at Roehampton. The day features picturesque routes through the park and includes a communal lunch break inside the original Span development.
This sociable tour visits several sites of innovative architecture with remarkable public landscaping, ranging from the 18th century to the modernist era and explores a diverse range of housing typologies, including almshouses, the first experiment in council housing in the capital and iconic pre and post-war Modern housing.
Highlights include Hickey’s Almshouses in Richmond, the Grade II-listed Queen’s Road Estate, Parkleys the first Span Estate by Eric Lyons/Span Developments (1954-59), Langham House Close and the Alton Estate, exploring the work of Manning Clamp & Partners, Darbourne and Darke, Stirling and Gowan, Eric Lyons and the progressive architects department of the LCC amongst others.
This longer day long tour is supported by first hand accounts from local residents alongside archival materials to draw out inspirational stories of the past and present. While some locations and communities on the tour have been the focus of recent regeneration proposals, the quality of even the most endangered of these places is becoming increasingly widely recognised and celebrated today; with many of the projects now listed for protection.
5 highlight buildings or stops on the route:
1. Hickey’s Almshouses
2. Queen’s Road Estate
3. Langham House Close
4. Parkleys
5. Alton Estate
Key information
Meet: 11am outside Richmond Station The Quadrant, Richmond, Greater London TW9 2NA
Duration: 6 hours approx including 1 hour lunch 1 - 2pm The plan is to have a picnic in Richmond Park, at Pen Ponds, so participants can either choose to bring lunches or use the Refreshment Kiosk, which serves food and drinks.
Tour end: Putney Rail Station, Putney High Street, SW15 1RT
Distance: 11 miles approx
Cost: £29.50 / £40.50 / £55.50
This tour has an Open City cycle tour difficulty rating of medium. Participants must be competent riders; bring their own bicycle.
Tickets are non refundable. Our tours go ahead rain or shine… Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries.
Meet the tour guides …
Aidan Hall is a co-founder of social enterprise Okra where he leads projects in the fields of architecture, design, research and education. He has taught architecture at schools and universities across the UK and Europe and has led walking tours for the Architecture Foundation since 2017. He joined the Open City tours team in summer 2020.
Roz Peebles is an Architect and Urban Designer, currently a Senior Design Manager at the LLDC, where she leads on design guidance for a range of projects. She has a unique blend of public and private sector expertise as an architect, planning advisor and client. Throughout her career she has has prioritised the social responsibility of architecture. As a member of Okra CIC she collaborates in urban research and educational outreach. She has curated walks of the built environment for the AF and Open City where she mentors for the Golden Key Academy and has co authored several ‘pocket guide’ publications. Roz joined the Open City tours team in summer 2020.