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Residents of Telford Park

The estate was completed in 1882 to the architect's satisfaction, and he took up residence in Telford Avenue. Soon after, the most famous of the Bedford Park architects - C.A.Voysey - came to see Tarver's work for himself. He was so impressed that he moved to Telford Park himself, thus attracting yet more architects, shipping magnates and other notables in his wake.

A combination of the fine architecture, avant-garde social design and tennis attracted a wide variety of inhabitants to Telford Park in the fifty years from 1880 to 1930. From the early 1900's, the records of the period demonstrate how the area became fashionable, in particular for those in the arts and media, as well as the professions and the aristocracy. This tradition of variety of inhabitants has seen a significant resurgence over the last few years.

The actor Hugh Diamond lived in Telford Park, as did the music-hall star Roland Gallier and the Lupino Lane family. Criffel Avenue in particular became a haven for journalists, notably one of first female representatives - Violet Addie. Near the Lupino Lanes lived the theatrical costumier Mr.Wagstaffe, and in 1923 a Mr David Jacobs moved to Telford Avenue,and his more famous son the disk jockey and Come Dancing presenter was born there in 1925. Bud Flanagan of the Crazy Gang often gave the young Jacobs a lift to school in the mornings.

Few areas stay fashionable forever, and the 1930's and 1940's saw the decline of the upper-middle class style of household and one by one the great houses of Telford Park began to split up into short- term rental multi-occupancy concerns by landlords and then later, property developers.

Several older residents stayed on, however, and as the 1980's dawned, a swing began back to single family occupancy and a renewed interest in the original concept of the estate. This revival has accelerated since the formation of the Telford Park Association.

The Telford Park Association

The Association was formed to conserve the varied character of the area, by preserving trees which abound in variety and antiquity; to protect the area from the ravages of developers and to persuade those in local government that the Estate rivals, and possibly surpasses, Bedford Park in historical importance - and thus ought to be a Conservation Area. The Association's representations to Lambeth Council proved successful.

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Telford Park Sutton & Dudley - Builders Tarver - The Architect Maps Photos Bibliography Feedback