'Corb blimey': Alton Estate walk
'Corb blimey': Alton Estate walk
Saturday 4 April 2026
Start/finish place: outside of Roehampton Library, 2 Danebury Avenue, SW15 4HD
Start/finish time: 10.30am/13.30pm
This circular route explores the celebrated Alton Estate Roehampton (now around 65 years old) from the perspective of one who grew up there. The estate is divided into two branches with very separate identities: the slightly earlier Alton East (1955) with its Scandi inspired softer vernacular and Alton West (1959) with a more uncompromising brutalist approach, seen especially in the grade 2* listed slab blocks paying tribute to Le Corbusier’s Unite D’habition in Marseilles (1947–52).
Both wings of the estate were built on the extensive parkland of 18th century mansions which still survive. A requirement was that its mix of high rise, maisonettes, and individual houses should respect and avail of these historic landscapes and provide high density dwellings in spacious surroundings. In particular we will examine how the best intentions of its visionary designers translated into practical reality.
Frank Burgess is a native Londoner with memories from age one of seeing concrete piloti awaiting assembly for Alton Estate Roehampton. His Irish immigrant family was among its earliest inhabitants. A fascination with the London townscape and its endlessly quirky variety dates from there. Frank has been working for the last eight years as an accredited London Blue Badge Guide.
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The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider.
Twentieth Century Society is a registered charity, no 1110244
Above: Alton West by the LCC Architects' Department, Roehampton, London. Photo by Steve Cadman, CC 2.0.