The Estate 01

The Wornington Green Estate was developed by the Kensington Housing Trust and constructed between 1964 and 1985 by the firm of Chapman and Taylor Partners, with Jane Durham as lead architect. It originally housed approximately 1,700 residents in 538 large deck-block flats and houses.

When I moved into it, it was like a different world to me, because first of all we had a bathroom, we didn't have a bathroom in Queens Park - we used to go to the public baths for a bath, you know.”

 

Alan Barnes
Former resident of Wornington Green Estate

 

Below are a collection of photos of the Wornington Green Estate taken by local residents. The images include among others: Peplar House (the first block of social housing to be built on Wornington Road in the early 60s), Thompson House (looking across Rendle, Murchison and Chesterton housing blocks), Breakwell Court walkway leading to Chiltern House and Watts House, the garden square at the centre of Katherine House, Macauley House and Breakwell Court, the walkway of the 4th floor of Chesterton House and the amphitheatre situated at the back of Murchison House.

The 6th floor red brick facade and window of a flat at Breakwell Court lived in by Hannah Hutch. Photo taken at dusk by Hannah Hutch.
A photo of the wide walkway leading from Breakwell Court across Chiltern House to Watts House on the 4th floor. The photo captures the tall green trees growing from the square below and the vast expanse of sky above. Washing hangs on the line of residents’ balconies. Photo by Hannah Hutch when she was a resident of Breakwell Court, taken from her flat.
A photo taken of Peplar House, the first block of social housing to be built on Wornington Road in the early 1960s. It shows a cascading jasmine plant in full blossom growing up the front of the red brick block of housing. Photo by David Saiz, local resident and Head of Oral History during the Wornington Word project.
The layout and plan of the Wornington Green Estate to guide visitors. This is from 2019 during the regeneration and half of the estate has already been demolished and replaced by Portobello Square new builds. Photo by Constantine Gras.
Peter, Resident of Olive Blythe House with his dog A.J. They are standing outside his front door. surrounded by window boxes. Photo by Kevin Percival.
A photo taken from Thompson House looking across Rendle, Murchison and Chesterton housing blocks on a snowy day. Photo by Kevin Percival, a resident of Peplar House.
A view from the wide walkway on the 4th floor of Chesterton House looking out onto the lush green trees at the height of summer. Residents potted plants grow on the walkway. Photo by Constantine Gras, 2019.
The estate name is inscribed on a white facade mounted on a stand-alone brick feature that is situated on Wornington Road. A local walks their King Charles Cavalier dog in the background. Photo by Kevin Percival.
Khy, Marcus and Levee sit on the blue railings outside the entrance to Watts House on a break from shooting the short film The Seeker. Photo by Natasha Langridge
A view from the 4th floor walkway of the garden square below that is situated between Katherine House, Macaulay House and Breakwell Court. A red brick path leads through the grass. To the left is a residents garden with several brightly coloured flower pots. Photo by Kevin Percival, a resident of Peplar House.
The garden square at the centre of Katherine House, Macaulay House and Breakwell Court. There are four large trees without leaves at the heart of the green grassy square. Photo from Wornington Road by Constantine Gras, local film maker.
Actress, playwright and resident of Wornington Green Estate, Natasha Langridge, is rehearsing a scene from her monologue, In Memory of Leaves, about her life, loves and regeneration. The am-phitheatre was often used as a playing and meeting area, but later became a performance space. It was situated at the back of Murchison House, Wells House and Olive Blythe House. Photo taken by Yui Mok.
Photo depicts three floor terrace houses on Munro Mews. Each has a small front garden with lush foilage. The street is cobbled with black bollards to restrict car access. Munro Mews was demolished in 2011. Photo reproduced from The United Estate of Wornington Green website.
Photo depicts Wheatstone House, prior to its demolition, as seen from Athlone Gardens, with a London Plane tree in the foreground. The house is a 5 floor red brick building with a walkway in the centre. Photo by Natasha Langridge, 2014.