Old advert published in 1937 for the development
It was built as a tennis retreat and spa by Bertram Carter in 1935. Boasting constant hot water, uniformed porters and an entourage of other staff, a post office, telephones, lift (the original is still in use now), a restaurant, numerous lounges, a labyrinth of luggage rooms, landscaped gardens, garages, putting green, swimming pool and seven tennis courts .
Folk would retreat here for a "country break" and stay in one of the rentable rooms (which is laughable as the flat's not at all country located now!)
The newspaper ad promoted the development with the tag line "The servant problem solved" as each apartment had two lockable rooms (one which could be used for your maid and the other for you). Each room had a "well equipped kitchen" (just in case the restaurant menu had not sated your appetite) and a "luxury tiled bathroom" which tenants would share. I can just imagine Bertie Wooster coming to stay with Jeeves in one of the new modern and fashionable holiday rents!
Although my flat had a permanent tenant (separate post to follow) I knew the holiday apartments had the same floor plan as mine... consisting of a small square hall leading directly ahead to the bathroom. With two rooms either side of the hall. In my flat to the left is the living room/kitchen and to the right is the bedroom. Here is my bedroom cupboard...
I couldn't work out where the kitchen for each room would have been originally, until I spoke to my lovely Caretaker who let me have a sneaky peek at a flat that used to be rented out as a holiday home, and had barely been touched since the 30s. I discovered this...
The "well equipped kitchen" (with modern sink and appliances)
My now wardrobe that's stashed with frocks would have stashed the cooking facilities! And if my flat had been a holiday home there would have been a cupboard in my living room for this purpose too!
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G x
5 comments:
Oh my goodness, that is so neat! Living somewhere that has history is always so much more fun than somewhere new.
wow! how fantastic! I must do more research into my own house. I don't think there's such amazing history to it, but who knows what one finds when one digs about in the town archives!
wow what a roomy kitchen! How ingenious.. and is that a baby belling I see? Fab History too- I'm very envious.
I love the fact the kitchen was promoted as "well equipped" but to todays standards it's weeny! but then I guess to maintain that svelte 1930s form one didn't need to whip up a veritable feast in an overstocked kitchen!!
Hey! I have only just discovered your blog (via Vintage in a Modern World) and LOVE this post! I live in a 1950's build which I am sure would survive a nuclear fall out - on account of the solid concrete construction. Nothing as decedant as your lovely abode :)
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