VICTORIAN INVENTIONS | BELVEDERE | 1930s | MANSARD FLATS

Pioneer architecture
Cannon commissioned Gibberd to design the Park Court flats in a modernist style, only to have the plans thrown out by the local planners who demanded a neo-Georgian approach. After a battle, Cannon and Gibberd won and the estate was built in 1936 to their original plans.

The flats were built to a very high specification, with patented double-floors to reduce noise, electrical heaters in airing cupboards and beneath the deep lounge windows, and an ‘Ascot’ instant hot water system for the kitchen and bathroom.

Park Court was regarded as a notable development from the start, and widely written-up when it was completed. The average rent for a flat in 1936 was £140 per year!

Racecourses
Beyond modern architecture, Mr Cannon’s main interest seems to have been horse-racing. Although three blocks were named after him (Cannon) and his children (Nicholas and Lucille), six blocks (Aintree, Ascot, Goodwood, Lingfield, Redcar and Sandown) were named after racecourses.

Frederick Gibberd
Frederick Gibberd went on to become one of Britain’s leading 20th-century architects, designing Harlow New Town (now being restored to his original intentions), Cambridge University Library, Liverpool Catholic Cathedral (for which he was knighted), and many other public buildings. Sadly, the firm’s archive holds little information on Park Court – any more detail would be welcome.