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Taymount grange and forest croft

Author Message
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
Posted on Friday, 16 February, 2007 - 12:34 pm:   

Hi. I've recently moved into forest croft - the white deco building on top of tamount rise. I'm interested in finding out what I can about both forest croft and/or taymount grange (the building below). Any help would be most appreciated :)
Dommy
Joined 27-05-2004
Posted on Friday, 16 February, 2007 - 01:30 pm:   

Taymount Grange used to be some kind of hotel / retreat. There used to be tennis courts belonging to T.G. on the land on which Forestholme Close was built.
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
Posted on Friday, 16 February, 2007 - 03:42 pm:   

thanks, Dommy. Such a strange place for a hotel? An odd late deco building stuck up on a hill which I imagine, at the time, was empty of other buildings? And I wonder what the link is with Forst Croft - they're clearly of the same period and style. More info from anyone would be lovely.
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
Posted on Friday, 16 February, 2007 - 03:43 pm:   

sorry, just realised I sound a bit 'nancy drew' in the last post. :(
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Friday, 16 February, 2007 - 06:31 pm:   

Just as a suggestion, there is a FHS walk in Forest Hill this Sunday to be led by Steve Grindlay- if anyone knows about Taymount Grange he should so may be an idea to go along to this as a starter.

I looked at buying a flat in one of these two blocks years ago- I thought they were beautiful, quiet, the flats were large and well proportioned, but there were long standing issues with block repairs and service charges that put me off.I believe things have been turned around in both blocks.?
I liked TG especially but it always reminded me of the hotel in the Shining with its long corridors and empty concierge office so as a single woman at that time it just didn't feel safe. Great views from the top, though!
Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Friday, 16 February, 2007 - 06:34 pm:   

Sorry, the walk /history tour is on 25th Feb, which is Sunday week.
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
Posted on Friday, 16 February, 2007 - 07:46 pm:   

Thanks, Roz. Will definitely check the walk out. I love living here - as you say, the flats have lots going for them. The outstanding issues are...kindof resolved-ish and lots of the people who now live there have a real drive to sort things out, which is the main thing. The style is something you don't get much of in the UK, which is what I love about both buildings.
Stevegrindlay
Joined 24-10-2006
Posted on Sunday, 18 February, 2007 - 09:19 pm:   

You had me worried there, Roz; I thought for a moment I had missed the walk.

Taymount Rise was called Queens Road until the late 1930s when the name was changed to avoid confusion with the many other Queens Roads in London. Taymount, after which the road was named, was a large Victorian house on the site of Taymount Grange. It was demolished in the early 1930s.

Taymount Grange was built in 1935 to the designs of George Bertram Carter. Many of the flats had two apartments, a large one one for the occupants, a smaller one for the servant. In fact, the flats were advertised with the tag "The servant problem solved". When built, apart from the flats, there was also a restaurant, lounge and "guest rooms". Outside there were seven tennis courts, a swimming pool and a putting green. This link shows a fascinating photograph of the flats during building:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/175/394285108_f1eb9 287e8_b.jpg

Forest Croft was built in 1936 to designs of Arnold Andre Higuer, on a site previously occupied by The Mount. You can see The Mount in the photograph.
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
Posted on Monday, 19 February, 2007 - 10:26 am:   

Steve, that's absolutely wonderful. Thank you. If you know of any books or sources where I can get further info, I'd be really grateful to be pointed in the right direction.

Looking forward to the walk :)
Bt
Joined 27-07-2003
Posted on Tuesday, 20 February, 2007 - 07:44 am:   

From the photograph it looks as if the tennis courts were there before the flats were built. There seem to be several matches in progress. So presumably there was some sort of sports club there before the flats.
Stevegrindlay
Joined 24-10-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 20 February, 2007 - 09:18 am:   

Bt, there was a tennis club there, with well over a dozen courts. Taymount, the house originally on the site, was the club house.

Nevermodern, for more information you should visit Lewisham Local Studies:
http://tinyurl.com/ypf22r
In 2002 a post-graduate dissertation was written on Taymount Grange called "The Servant Problem Solved", and I'm pretty sure they have a copy of it. Also, John Coulter's book "Sydenham and Forest Hill Past" has a similar arial view taken before the demolition of Taymount.
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
Posted on Tuesday, 27 February, 2007 - 11:07 am:   

Steve, thanks very much - and really enjoyed your walk :) You mentioned that your wife organised a walk of the area for the 20th Century Society a few years ago? Any plans for a reprise?
Stevegrindlay
Joined 24-10-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 27 February, 2007 - 08:51 pm:   

Nevermodern, glad you enjoyed the walk. As to Sue's walk, the 20C Soc did ask her to do it again this year, but we have too much else on. Maybe next year, but you have to be a member to join them.
Ht
Joined 22-02-2007
Posted on Wednesday, 28 February, 2007 - 02:33 pm:   

I've just moved to Forest Hill, and really do like these two buildings. Nevermodern, if it's any help, as a housewarming present I was given two interesting books on the area, "Britain in Old Photographs - Forest Hill and Sydenham" by J Coulter and J Seaman, and "Sydenham and Forest Hill history and guide" by J P Alcock (which has some walks at the back). Unfortunately I missed the walk on Sunday, but will keep a look out to see if you do another Steve, as it would be a great way to get to know the area.
Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
Posted on Wednesday, 28 February, 2007 - 06:00 pm:   

thanks, Ht. Will check them out.


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