Fieldenders

Portraits, Interviews & Films

… what happens after the builder has packed up and gone home…

Fieldend, south west London, an Eric Lyons SPAN modernist development is 65 years old this year and in celebration of this achievement it was decided at the Fieldend Residents Association (FRAL) AGM that a portrait record of each household should be done in advance of the summer party, I became involved in creating this portrait and interview project as I live here with my family.

“Get Britain building again”

The current UK government, under Labour leadership, has placed housing at the heart of its economic recovery strategy, prominently pledging to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years with mandatory housing targets for councils, planning system overhauls, and the release of “grey belt” land to unlock development. The government has also promised to intervene when local areas lag. Very little has been said about the legacy this drive will leave behind. “Fieldenders” is an opportunity to consider what lessons can be learned from the last big push to invest in Britain’s housing stock and how government policy can support and sustain communities.

… this is my photography portrait project capturing nearly every resident at the 1960’s SPAN housing scheme.

Fieldend is a community of 51 homes arranged around two landscaped garden squares with a delightful and energetic community and community organisation. As well as portraiture I have interviewed the sitters asking them about their thoughts on their community.

The sitters are diverse range of people, new comers and founding residents, neo-teenagers to Octogenarians.

USE -Portraits, Interviews & Films; Online/ Fine Art submission/ awards/ Editorial/ exhibition

Cristobel

I’ve lived in Fieldend for 22 years, having moved here with my husband, Colin. We followed my sister and brother-in-law, who were already living here. We had visited them and I remember telling Colin that Fielend would suit us perfectly. We were living in a very large Edwardian house that was far too big for us. We wanted to downsize, and Fieldend offered a comforting environment without the constant burden of upkeep.
My main hope for Fieldend's future is that it maintains its current wonderful status quo. I truly don't want to see it change. It feels like a special village, and I hope people continue to value what they're joining when they move here. There's a unique sense of community, even if it's evolved over the years, and a comforting environment with the abundance of trees and overall safety. I believe its protected status under Richmond helps preserve its character, and I wish for people to appreciate this unique aspect of living in Fieldend.
I really don't want to move anywhere else. I hope they carry me out in a box.

Kilian O’Sullivan Award Winning London Based Architectural Photographer Fieldenders

Colin & Michelle

We moved here 22 years ago, in 2003, primarily because I wanted our daughters to attend the local girls' school. While some might consider us established, Colin and I still feel a bit like newcomers, even after all this time. However, it's been wonderful to see the children I’ve child-minded grow up and still chat with me. I've child-minded for at least seven or eight families from the neighbourhood, including Thomas, Ida, Ingrid, Elliot, Caspar, Mary, Djuna, Romi, Alex, and Cherry.
One of the most significant events during our time here was the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdown meant local parks and playgrounds were taped off, leaving Fieldend as our saving grace for outdoor activity. We would take walks around the neighbourhood, which provided a much-needed outlet. Another memorable milestone was the 50th anniversary of Fieldend in 2010. Colin helped serve the hog roast, and it was a great way to meet new neighbours, like Hannah, who had just moved in.
To me, being a good neighbour means being friendly and helpful, chatting about life and the world, and taking in each other’s Amazon parcels so they don't get wet – those solid doors are a real problem for deliveries! Colin’s 20 years on the board as treasurer have also helped us get to know more people. We hope Fieldend stays as it is, a friendly community that continues to have more social gatherings and events like summer parties and music. It would also be nice to see more children in the community, as we’ve noticed the numbers have dropped since we first arrived.

Judith & Nigel

We have lived in Fieldend for nearly seven years now. We moved here from New Malden, where we had a larger house, as we were looking to downsize. Our daughter, an architect, introduced us to the concept of SPAN housing developments, which we found quite appealing.
My favourite thing about living in Fieldend is the view. When I look out of any of our windows, I primarily see trees, which creates a very pleasant and peaceful environment. Unlike our previous cul-de-sac, there’s always someone around, which was particularly nice during lockdown. It's lovely to see people going about their lives and feel connected to the community.
For me, being a good neighbour in Fieldend means a few things. Everyone here is friendly and says hello, which is a simple but important gesture. There’s a palpable sense of community, and people genuinely look out for one another. We've seen this in how neighbours come together to address issues like break-ins or organise clean-up days.

Judith & Nigel recreate "American Gothic" by Grant Wood, USA, 1930

Wei Lan & Zoe

The best thing about Fieldend is definitely the people and the strong sense of community. The nature and peaceful environment are also highly valued, offering a stark contrast to our previous home in a busy urban area like Tottenham. While Tottenham had a strong community, it wasn't as peaceful as Fieldend.
A significant milestone for us was arriving just two months before the COVID-19 pandemic. Being "locked in" the estate during that time was a special experience. We felt incredibly lucky to have the outdoor space and to be able to form bubbles with other families, which was a massive benefit for our young children. The community support was incredible; someone was always there to provide what was needed, from a lemon to a listening ear. Two years after moving here, we also had our civil partnership.
Being a good neighbour in Fieldend means being mindful of everyone's needs and being considerate. It's a multi-generational community, so blending different lifestyles is important. People are always there for each other, whether it's borrowing tools, offering advice, or just having a chat. We've learned a lot, particularly from our incredible neighbour Ray, who is a one-man DIY superstar

Dot

I moved to Fieldend in August 1978. I don't really remember why we chose this area; we were just looking for houses and ended up here.
The best thing about living in Fieldend, I think, is the neighbours. You can truly rely on them. They were brilliant when my husband passed away, offering a lot of support. If you have a problem, like a broken television or a car that needs a jump start, there's always someone who can help. My son was born in 1979 and my daughter in 1982, making them authentic Fieldenders. When my children were little, Fieldend was wonderful. They always had someone to play with, and the older children looked after them. Because they were used to going into other people's houses when the weather wasn't good, they became very confident, happy to talk to adults and ask for things like a biscuit or to use the loo. My grandchildren even like visiting to see where their mummy and daddy grew up.
Looking to the future, I would really like to see more younger families with small children move into the area. When my children were growing up, there were many children here, which really made the community special. Now, there are only about a dozen children, compared to the estimated 100 Marion thought there once were. The high cost of housing in the Teddington area, however, makes it difficult for younger families to move in.

Marrion

I moved to Fieldend in September 1960 with my husband and we have lived here ever since. We were the first residents to occupy number 16, which was the first house on the estate, apart from the estate manager's house. It was a building site when we arrived, and the local residents were initially unhappy with the unusual house designs, especially the flat roofs and floor heating, which they thought were strange for a "council estate." My mother-in-law even told me I’d get a “proper house” one day!
We moved here because Jimmy worked in Whitehall, and we wanted a commute of no longer than half an hour. We also had friends who had bought a SPAN house in Blackheath, and we were impressed by Eric Lyons' vision of creating communities, not just houses. That’s why he designed the houses to face inwards, with the road at the back, which created a wonderfully liberating environment for both adults and children. I remember at least 100 children living here in the 60s and 70s. Field End children were easily recognised in nurseries and schools because they were already so socialised, confident, and independent. We had an open-door policy, and children freely visited each other's homes. If there was a crisis, you knew someone would help. It was a truly wonderful place, and I had never heard of SPAN houses before we found it – it was serendipitous.
Looking to the future, I hope Fieldend maintains its values. The houses are somewhat fragile and expensive to maintain, but with the conservation protection, I hope they will continue to be well-preserved, keeping their unique appearance. Most importantly, I hope the spirit of friendship and community will be passed on from generation to generation. It's an evolving community, but I believe the core values will endure, adapting to new challenges while preserving Fieldend's unique character.

Andy & Stuart

We moved to Fieldend in November 2024, about six months ago. Our search for a new home started in Surbiton, but we expanded our area to include Ham and eventually found this place in Fieldend. It was quite a journey, taking a year from accepting an offer on our flat to finally moving in here. The property itself required a lot of vision, as it was very run down but it offered a blank canvas for us to work with while retaining original features.
What we appreciate most is the calm and peaceful environment. When we get off the bus after work and turn into Fieldend, it's just so relaxing – no rushing cars, just a quiet garden feel. We’ve noticed a definite change in the quality of sound here due to the trees. The community aspect is also a huge highlight; the neighbours are incredibly friendly. In our old neighbourhood, we hardly knew anyone, but here, people introduced themselves and invited us over. It feels like going back in time to when everyone knew each other and played in the street. We’ve already experienced great neighbourly support, borrowing forks on moving day and receiving a rug and kitchen units.
Looking to the future, we hope that Fieldend maintains its unique charm and community feel. It's amazing that it still has this strong community spirit after 65 years. We recognize that neighbourhoods go through generational cycles, but we truly hope the community vibe continues and the neighbourhood remains unchanged. Being a listed area is wonderful because it means it won't change drastically. The only thing we might wish for is a change in the flight paths, as there have been quite a few planes recently!

Sheila

I moved here in 1960, when the houses were first built. My husband had taken a job at NPL in Teddington, and we wanted to live within walking distance. We wrote to estate agents, and this was the only place available at the time, as houses were selling like hot cakes. I think the houses were finished in numerical order, clockwise. So when we moved in, about half the estate was already filled and we watched the other half moving in. Everyone was new.
People in Fieldend have always helped each other and everyone has different gifts and ways of helping, whether it was picking up children from school, mending things, offering wise words, listening to worries or simply having a friendly chat. Being a good neighbour can also mean finding amicable solutions to community issues. I remember there was once a bust up about dogs: families with children but no dogs were worried about them running around and leaving a mess - dogs vs children. In the end I think the children won, but it was resolved amicably. We've been fortunate to live with reasonable people who are willing to talk and explain things politely. Marion, another neighbor, was always there to nurse anyone who had an accident or bruise.
Fieldend has changed quite a bit since I first moved here. When we arrived, there were over 70 children living here, and they were always out playing. You’d always know where the children were from the pile of bikes. You’d either have no children or 5,6,7 of them all at once. And when they wanted the loo, they would just go into the nearest house. Now, there aren't as many children, and it feels much quieter during the day. The area also looks different. I used to like it when it was neater and tidier, but I also appreciate all the flowers we have now. I also miss the Red Square, which was a different colored asphalt that gave the area a unique character. However, despite these changes, Fieldend is still a peaceful place to come back to, and I feel very lucky to have lived here for so many years.