Page 4 - HGS Suburb News 144 - December 2020

Waterlow Court: an interesting past Learning online at HGS U3A

ur Autumn Term has started
Oon an incredibly positive
note. We have now progressed
to over 40 online groups.
Whether you want to join a
Gentle Exercise class, learn or
improve your language skills,
delve into the complexities of
crime with our Crime Club,
learn about faraway places with
our Talking Travel group, engage
in Art and Drawing, become a
member of the cast for our Play
reading group or join in our
fortnightly popular London
Quiz, there is something there
for everyone.
We are also particularly
appreciative and proud of our
professional Group Leaders who
give our members the opportunity
to pursue new interests or
t the start of the twentieth (Above) Waterlow Court today. (Below) Interior pictures circa 1910. develop their skills. Our U3A
A century there was an would not function without
increasing awareness amongst their dedication and the loyalty
women that there was a of our members.
different way of doing things. October was a busy month
The invention of appliances like for our Topical Talks; ranging Visit hgsu3a.uk to see the full range of courses available.
the sewing machine gave women from a Talk on Human the Pandemic Has Nudged substitute for personal contact,
an opportunity to work from © PHOTOS COURTESY OF HGS TRUST ARCHIVE Trafficking and Modern Day Practices and Prospects for nevertheless U3A is maintaining
home and the invention of the Slavery (part of our Crime Club), Digital Health Technologies’.We the human connection. The core
bicycle gave them freedom. another talk on ‘Poisonous Plants are also grateful that Professor values of U3A are continuous
Further inventions such as the Make Good Medicines’ and we Baum agreed to facilitate a learning, developing your interests,
typewriter and the telephone were particularly indebted to monthly series entitled ‘Science making friends and also trying
opened up completely new Evan Davis, the brilliant radio and the Arts: Medical Humanities’, something new. We endeavour
work opportunities in offices presenter and journalist who which has proved to be to ensure we continue to fulfil
and shops, as did the rapid fitted us into his busy schedule. immensely popular. this for our members.
expansion of the school system, His talk was about his new book Online learning continues We also welcome new
and the emergence of the new ‘Post Truth’. We have further to provide the opportunity to members and new ideas. We are
profession of nursing. talks planned: one on Cyber have larger group meetings and an integral part of the local
Henrietta Barnett had Crime, another on Forensic develop groups with a wide community, so please do check
denounced as blasphemous the Accounting in a criminal trial, choice of subjects. Although us out at hgsu3a.uk/.
notion that “a woman is a non- and a third one entitled ‘How the ‘new norm’ is not an exact DAPHNE BERKOVI
entity unless joined to a man”.
She was involved in supporting
working women and believed What’s new in the Virtual Museum
in the suffrage movement, so,
as she planned her Garden ver the last few ‘Covid’ am now Mrs S P Cooper. Spent hgsheritage.org.uk, in the WW2
Suburb, she wanted to include
in it “a discreet settlement of Omonths, the HGS Virtual the morning in general preparation. Personal Memories section.
Younger visitors will soon
self-contained dwellings for single Museum has seen the number The whole family there inc have their own ‘Fun-sized
of visitors to its website rise, Gladwys and Laurie, the baby
working gentle ladies”. with many of them coming and 2 dogs. Nearly reached Collections’ in the Museum,
This resulted in Waterlow
Court. The building was named from overseas, especially with chaos as the doomed hour of 2 with the introduction of child-
for Lord Sydney Waterlow who, enquiries about family history pm approached. Awfully nice friendly material for school-
connected with the Suburb. wedding ceremony at the Free
aged kids for each of the
in 1860, had founded a philan- Work continues on increasing Church...The reception at the featured Collections. The first
thropic housing company
called The Improved Industrial the collections – the 1911 tea house was quite fun...” You one will be WW2, which should
Dwellings Company. This Census Collection will be added can catch up with the rest of launch in early 2021.
Denise Peverett’s 1940 Diary at
over the coming months.
company built the Court in MARJORIE HARRIS
1908-9 as philanthropic housing Thanks to those of you who
for single young women. have submitted WW2 memories
Waterlow Court was designed for all to read – the Museum’s
expansion and range relies on
by the architect Baillie Scott in local people to share their
the Arts and Crafts style. It was
situated at the end of a cul-de-sac. unique Suburb experiences,
knowledge, history and artefacts.
A lych-gate (a gateway covered A prime example is the 1940
with a roof ) opens to a timber- diary just sent in by Denise
framed and covered walkway some of the flats have exposed Waterlow Court had 50
which leads to a quadrangular timbers and dowelled joints. All individual flats of three to five Cooper’s daughter, Caroline
building of lime-washed brick the doors, chairs, chests and rooms, with a communal Wright: “Tuesday 31st December
1940 – Well today I was married
with timber-framed exterior cabinets were also specially dining room, a small Common and for the last time I write in
elevations and low tiled roofs designed. The courtyard has Room, housekeeper’s and
that feature a timber cupola sheer unbroken white plaster servants’ accommodation and a my diary as Denise M Peverett. I
and high brick chimney stacks. walls and smooth undecorated kitchen where communal meals
The round-arched arcades round-arched cloisters which, were prepared. It was understood
create a ‘cloister’ effect and serve surprisingly, give softness and that these professional ladies may
as a walkway to the ground- gentleness to its proportions. not have been able to afford
floor flats. They also give access Around the buildings are their own servants – but they
to the dog-leg staircases with five landscaped areas with could afford bicycles and there
18th century style balusters that lawns, beds and a wild garden is a contemporary bicycle shed.
have Jacobean style handrail and with 35 fruit trees. The layout The communal rooms were
newel posts with turned finials. remains similar today to that of later converted to flats and the
The windows are mullioned, Baillie Scott’s original plan; it is complex now has 54 flats in all.
leaded casements and are of an likely that the planting scheme In 1943 residency at Waterlow
original design. The interiors of was inspired by Gertrude Jekyll. Court was opened up to single
men, and couples were admitted
in 1954.
Waterlow Court is now a
P R HARTLEY Grade II listed building. The
owners of the flats have a share
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT of the freehold and help to
manage the Court through an
& REGISTERED AUDITOR elected Board of Directors.
In 2019 a one-bedroom flat
Accounting & Taxation Services described as ‘truly unique and rare
to the market’ was offered for sale
at an asking price of £475,000.
Call 020 8731 9745 or 07850 634395
Email paul@prhartley.co.uk All photos copyright of the HGS
Trust Archives. Suburb News
www.prhartley.co.uk would like to thank the Archives
for their support.
4 SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS