SMS Creative Photography Celebrates Twenty-Five Years

Shop front from February 1997 - 83 Station Road East, Oxted, Surrey. The lettering, by a local master craftsman, was created by hand direct to the perspex.

SMS Creative Photography was born on Monday 10th February 1997 at number 83 Station Road East, Oxted!

That makes it 25 years ago - a quarter of a century! So much has changed and happened since then – notably the evolution of photography and the introduction of digital photography for the masses. We went fully digital in 2005 and have embraced the changes ever since.

In August 2019 after 23 years on the high street, I moved away to work remotely embracing opportunities to photograph nationwide and overseas, as well as keeping a firm foothold in Oxted where I live and run the business from.

Thank you so much for all your support over the years, I could not have come this far without you. It has given me so much joy and pleasure to be able to create a business from something I just love – namely photographing people and the things they love and value. Such as their family, home & garden, business premises, headshots and so, so much more.

In 2012 I was commissioned to photograph a comprehensive classic and supercar collection to create provenance and a lasting memory for the owner to mark a special birthday. This commission led me into the automotive world, including photographing Formula One behind the scenes at the British Grand Prix.

As a result of this, in 2013 I created a new brand within SMS Creative Photography called ‘Stella – Lifestyle and Automotive Photography’. To see images from various automotive events including Formula One take a look at the website - stellascordellis.com

Seven times World Champion Lewis Hamilton at the British Grand Prix 2018 with fans during signing autographs.

It gives me even more pleasure to reconnect with so many of you to update your photographs from the very early days. Our ‘Then & Now’ page, on the SMS Creative Photography website, shows the passing of time – you can find it here.

If this idea appeals to you and you would like to recreate a picture from one that I have taken years ago, then please do get in touch – I’d love to hear from you!

Mother and son when he was six years old.

The same mother and son when he was 18 years old.

I continue to photograph portraits, family photo-shoots and celebrations, business headshots, and much more – feel free to explore the website.

Before you do this, I just want to let you know that I have been working on a personal project for posterity since January 2019, photographing the demolition of the gas holder that once sat in Oxted town for over 50 years.

There is a new housing development, nearing completion, on the site – built by St William part of the Berkeley Group. You can see and read the blogs I have written about the process from start to almost finished here – scroll to the bottom of the page under ‘Featured’ - there are 26 blogs so far in total with a couple more to follow to complete the journey due for completion at the end of March 2022.

The demolition process started in January 2019.

The site was ready for the foundations to start in March 2019

There are 111 apartments in three blocks due for completion March 2022

Thank you for your custom and support. I look forward to seeing you again soon.

If you have a project in mind, or just to say hello, feel free to get in touch:-

either on 0777 181 0105 or 01883 722282 or email info@smscreativephotography.co.uk

I’ll leave you with a gallery of a few images from the early days - can you spot yourself?

With many thanks

Stella

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens October 2021

Welcome to blog number 24 about my October site visit to Courtyard Gardens in Oxted – built on the former gasholder site.

This blog forms part of a series of ongoing updates visually documenting the process from the demolition of the gasholder in January 2019, right through to the completion of 111 high-end one, two, and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses by St William, part of the Berkeley Group.

Block A and B are now complete! Project completion due January 2022.

A model of the development at Robert Leech Estate Agents on Station Road East, Oxted, just opposite the site.

Block A in the foreground with Block B adjoining back centre with Block C back left. Block A is Atkinson House, Block B is Beecham House and Block C is Hardwick House.

There are 41 apartments in Block A – 21 apartments in Block B and 49 apartments in Block C – including seven penthouses – two each in Blocks B & C and three in Block A.

The photographs featured in this blog were taken on 6 October 2021 showing the progress to date.

The photographs in the galleries below are each captioned top left – if viewing on a smartphone they may only be visible in landscape format.

Read on to find out more…

Spraying with water to clean the brickwork.

Maintenance access behind Block B.

Looking into car park B from maintenance access walkway. The grills complete the façade.

Block C from outside Block B.

Block B from the gardens.

The office cabins next to Block C are due to be removed in November to make way for further landscaping.

Landscaping preparation between Blocks B & C.

Beecham Hose entrance to Block B.

The entrance to Beecham House (Block B).

On the day of my visit, the brickwork was being cleaned on Block C following recent scaffold strikes. Landscaping continues on the podium and to the water feature area, and balcony balustrading is underway to Block C. Internally, communal ceiling closures are being undertaken and decorations continue within apartments.

The entrance to Atkinson House (Block A).

The hoist and silo outside Block C are due for removal end of October early November.

The drive entance to Blocks A on the right and B on the left.

Car park B for residents, underneath Block B and has Block C spaces too.

Each apartment is allocated one or two spaces depending on the flat size ( Spaces pre-fixed with a C or B depending on the block they live in).

Car park space for a resident in Block B.

A view from a penthouse apartment in Block C over the North Downs.

A view from Block C penthouse to a penthouse in Block A.

Extraction chimney from the plant room.

From a penthouse terrace in Block C looking over to a penthouse in Block A.

From a penthouse terrace in Block C looking over to Block A adjoining to Block B on the left.

A view from a penthouse terrace in Block C over the North Downs.

I would like to say a very big thank you so much to Ness Kingham, Assistant Site Manager who has been my brilliant point of contact over the past three years and has shown me around the site every month (except during the lockdowns). I have learned so much from Ness during my short visits about the construction of Courtyard Gardens. Wishing her all the very best on her next project with the Berkeley Group as she says goodbye to Courtyard Gardens.

A view from behind the shops on Station Road East - 30 January 2018

The same view from behind the shops on Station Road East – 6 October 2021.

The entrance to Block C where the resident mailboxes with be.

The living room of a penthouse in Block C.

A corridor in Block C.

The spacious hallway to one of the penthouses in Block C.

Insulation in one of the walls in Block C.

Cold water and sprinkler pipes, isolation valves and pressure gauges in Block C.

A window in Block C showing the brick work.

From a terrace in Block C.

A kitchen in an apartment in Block C.

Another kitchen in an apartment in Block C.

Living room onto a terrace in Block C.

Looking down from the office cabins to the terrace from the previous photo.

The office cabins adjacent to Block C are due for removal to make way for landscaping.

This fruit tree next to Block C called Cornus kousa, or Chinese dogwood produces a soft fruit that can be eaten without the skin. The Cornus kousa trees are also located on the podium so they’re a regular feature of the landscaping.

My reflection in a wardrobe mirror. I carry three cameras each with different lenses. Wide-angle, telephoto and standard.

I hope you are enjoying seeing and learning about the progress of the development as much as I am.

All of the images taken are held within my personal archive for posterity, please do get in touch if you would like to know more.

To read the blog from September 2021 please click here.

To read previous blogs, these can be found towards the bottom of the main blog page under ‘Featured’ blogs – this includes all 23 previous gasholder blogs.

For further information about Courtyard Gardens please follow this link to the Berkeley Group St William website.

More information here on the Robert Leech website too.

Looking forward to going back in October to photograph the progress as we edge closer to completion.

Thank you

Stella

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens August 2020

Far reaching views from the rooftop of Block A at Courtyards Gardens, Oxted.

It has been six months since I last had the pleasure of photographing Courtyard Gardens, the former home of the gasholder here in Oxted, Surrey and what a tremendous change I encountered.

This is blog number 15 and forms part of a series of ongoing blogs documenting the gasholder before demolition, during demolition at the start of 2019, and during the building process which started in the Spring of 2019. Completion of the 111 high-end one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses is scheduled for Summer 2021 by St William part of the Berkeley Group.

When entering the top of Snatts Hill from the A25 you can’t help but notice the emerging levels of Block A, I’m told the concrete frame is nearly complete with some final upstands left to pour on the roof. The view from the top of the building is spectacular – overlooking the far-reaching views of the North Downs and above the rooftops of the town.

The comparison of the two photographs below shows the view from the top of Snatts Hill in August 2018 on the left and August 2020 on the right. Isn’t it strange how quickly we forget how imposing and grand the gasholder once was, after all, it was part of the landscape of Oxted for over 50 years

My site visit took place on Monday 17 August, the photographs shown on this blog tell more of the unfolding story with captions on each image - (smartphone view in landscape format to enable captions). I’m going to start with the model below of Courtyard Gardens so we can get our bearings, I often refer to it before going on-site – read on to find out more…

A model of Courtyard Gardens housing development can be found at Robert Leech Estate Agents on Station Road East, Oxted opposite the site.

Block A shown above on the right, with Block B adjoining via a walkway is shown back centre. Block C is separate from Blocks A & B and is shown on the left.

The entrance to Blocks A & B is via Station Road East – seen in the foreground of the model. Block C is accessed via the entrance on the far left of the model, next to Johnsdale, where the former car park entrance once stood – all set beautifully within landscaped gardens. Each apartment has a balcony or terrace to enjoy the outside space.

A view of Block C from behind the flats in Station Road East.

The underground car park in Block C.

The plant rooms, pre-blockwork, these are on the lower ground floor. The car park is the level below.

This is the falsework on Block C Level 00.

From Block C the podium on level 1, looking back at Blocks A & B.

These are the walls and stair core on Block B

Looking back at Block A from Block B.

New social distancing rules to stay 2 metres apart.

Blocks C & B.

The build so far, I’m told Block B is at level 3 and Block C is progressing to level 2. Brickwork, façade and dry lining have commenced on Block A whilst mechanical and electrical works are underway in all blocks.

The entrance to the foyer of Block A.

Looking out of Block A over Block C.

One of the two bedroom flats.

A view from a balcony in Block A overlooking the entrance in Station Road East.

Level 01, Block A.

The exterior brickwork on Block A showing the different types of bricks used – the yellows.

Another brick type called red.

Windows and bricks on level 1 Block A.

A flat in Block A – Level 1.

A spacious view inside an apartment on Level 02.

A sunny view looking over Block C.

Block A – Level 3.

Looking down from Block A showing a terrace and looking over Block C. The entrance to Courtyard Gardens can be seen in the centre of the picture.

The brick work on the exterior is starting to take shape, there are three different finishes to give Courtyard Gardens a unique look and feel.

Level 02 from Block B overlooking Block C.

The exterior curve of the building on Block A.

Looking out of Block A over to Block C.

Block A looking over to Block B on the right.

A balcony view from Block A looking over the development.

Block A, on the rear elevation adjacent to the station.

From Level 04 of Block A showing the breathtaking views of the North Downs.

Another far-reaching view from the top of Block A.

A view from Block A. The crane closest to the building is soon to be dismantled. The hoist is already erected on site which will provide distribution of materials to each of the floors.

From the rooftop of Block A showing the top of St. Michaels in the distance.

From Block A rooftop looking towards the A25 and the top of Snatts Hill with St. Michaels at the top in the far distance.

The start of the brick works.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the progress of the development as much as I have, it’s been lovely to share this with you.

I’ll be back next month with more photographs to share with you from my September site visit.

To read the blog from February please click here and to read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs, this includes the other 14 gas holder blogs.

Thank you.

Stella

Oxted Town Re-Opens

As we emerge from lockdown to a different world to the one we left in March we can begin to enjoy freedom again.

In June I took a trip into Oxted town to take a few photographs to see how the town was looking during lockdown and to see the construction progress at the former gas holder site Courtyard Gardens from different viewpoints around the town.

The last time I was able to go onsite to take progress photographs was in February, a link to my blog from then can be found here. I think you’ll agree it is going up very fast! I don’t know when I will be given access to photograph onsite again as only essential workers are currently granted the right to do so.

Above photographs of Courtyard Gardens from various viewpoints around the town in June 2020.

On July 4th hair salons and barbers were given government permission to open their doors to start trading again following strict guidelines to avoid the spread of coronavirus. I wanted to record this moment for posterity and to see how the town was waking up after closing in March.

Above photographs of the re-opening of hair salons, barbers and other shops in Oxted town on July 4th 2020 to mark this moment in time.

Hopefully, it won’t be too long before I’m given permission to resume my site visits at Courtyards Gardens to bring you up to date photographs of the development.

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.

Thanks for reading

Stella

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens February 2020

My site visit to Courtyard Gardens on 25 February proved to be relatively dry considering it had been the wettest February on record. I noticed a significant difference this month from my previous January visit, concrete underground car park floors are starting to appear and exterior walls taking shape.

This is blog number 14 and forms part of a series of monthly visits until completion of all 111 high-end one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses in Summer 2021, by St Willam part of the Berkeley Group.

The photographs that follow have captions to tell you more about the process.

Carpark floors and walls taking shape.

From previous blogs I’m sure you are aware of how the site is changing. On this particular visit I noticed the most significant change because of how much work has, and is, taking place above ground and the number of workmen on site.

Block A is taking shape with the concrete carpark floor nearing completion.

Carpark concrete walls taking shape.

The carpark wall being formed. Showing the completed concrete floor.

From small skips to other building materials that aren’t packaged are moved across the site by crane.

Overlooking Block C carpark.

Two cranes make the move of a foul pump chamber quick and efficient from one end of the site to the other.

Placement of a foul pump chamber under carpark in Block C.

Foul pump chamber carefully lowered in place.

Block C lift core is complete, ready to be integrated with the basement slab.

Regular deliveries of freshly mixed concrete for immediate use.

It is now becoming clear exactly where Blocks A, B and C are positioned as the outlines of buildings take shape.

Behind Oxted railway station, Block A.

Behind the shops in Station Road East, the carparks are taking shape.

Lowering the foul pump chamber in place.

Carpark walls ready for filling with concrete.

Building the structure for the walls.

Four piles excavated in preparation for forming a pile cap.

Block A carpark taking shape from a different viewpoint.

Carpark walls for Block B.

Precision engineering for the correct alignment of the buildings.

Careful lowering of materials takes precision steering above and below ground.

Lowering of materials. Viewpoint behind the lower end of Station Road East.

The cab for the crane operator.

Block C carpark showing piling caps ready for the next stage.

This ongoing process of visiting the site every month, from the demolition of the gasholder in January 2019 to now has given me a real sense of appreciation as to what goes into building a development such as this.

I have learnt so much about the different processes, including the different skills, the architectural plans, the materials, the site management and how the weather plays a part as to how the site is managed. I am always excited to see the changes from month to month and am thankful to St William, for giving me the access to capture the changing town for posterity.

Looking up at one of the two cranes.

Cutting materials to size.

Lots of activity on site this month.

Carpark walls under construction.

The portacabins in the distance are also a hive of activity for site management.

Top of the rebars on the Block C lift core ready to be integrated with the basement slab.

Piling caps.

Thanks for reading I’ll be back in April with an update about my March visit. To read the other blogs about Courtyard Gardens please click here.

This link to my January visit to the site shows a display model of the development at Robert Leech Estate Agents just opposite the building works, this is where the buildings are brought to life and well worth a visit, you won’t be disappointed.

Stella

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens January 2020

A model of the development from the Station Road East entrance. On the far right is Block A with adjoining Block B to the left and Block C front left, sitting in beautifully landscaped gardens. Access to Blocks A and B are via the current Station Road East entrance whilst Block C is accessed independently via the Johnsdale entrance.

My first visit of 2020 to the Oxted Courtyard Gardens development site took place on Friday 24 January on an overcast day. A lot had changed since my last visit back in early December when the piling was nearing completion and the second tower crane was about to be installed. Although the site was closed for two weeks over the Christmas break I did notice a significant change, read on to find out more.

The following photographs all have captions on top to tell you more about the procedures in place for the 111 high-quality apartments.

The foundations for the underground car park at the back of the shops in Station Road East where Block A is located.

The two tower cranes used for moving materials from the furthest points on site.

The piling completed for Block A with the pile caps visible.

Some of the pile caps for Block A. This will form a pillar in the underground car park.

A view of where the steel cages are made and where Block B will be located

The second tower crane was installed in a day, the preparation to install the base took two weeks. The two piling rigs are no longer on-site as all the pilling is complete.

Making the cages that form the pile caps.

Finished cages.

This is blog number 13, just a brief recap in case you haven’t been following them.

I started writing my blogs in January 2019 when the demolition of the gasholder - which was previously on the site for over 50 years - commenced as a personal project for posterity. I have a long and deep connection with Oxted as my studio in Station Road East, which I moved away from in August 2019 after 23 years, backed onto the site, and ever since I took the lease on the premises at the end of 1996 I heard about how the gasholder site may one day be developed and I was not going to miss the opportunity to photographically document this, which has become a fascinating and enlightening project.

During each of my site visits, I always learn more about the construction process and all the skills that are employed along the way to ensure everything complies with building regulations, health and safety, and all the other regulations to monitor the air quality and vibrations to name only a few.

The development will be completed at the end of Summer 2021 and the show apartment will be ready for viewing this Summer with over 50% of the apartments already sold.

This mobile concrete pump was hired for the day to assist with depositing large quantities of concrete via a long arm into the base of Block C.

The concrete is poured via this arm into a cage to form a pile cap under Block C.

The concrete is poured into a cage to form a pile cap under Block C.

The foundations of the underground car park of Block C.

Foundations in place for Block A showing the piling caps.

Steel cages are constructed on site, and are surrounded underground by concrete to form a pile cap.

The two cranes are used to move objects from one part of the site to the other with ease and precision.

A view looking up to where Block A will sit, the portacabins will be relocated down the site as the development progresses.

The underground car park of Block C.

The pile cap, the bars poking out the top are column starter bars. The blue columns are dewatering wells to assist with the ground water levels.

Another angle of the development from the left of the Johnsdale entrance, the apartments are behind Station Road East, clearly showing Block C on the right with Block B on the left with Block A adjoining it. All the apartments are being built with underground allocated parking.

My previous blog showed the finishing of the base for this crane to be installed.

The foundations have to be immensely strong to support the tower crane, especially as the site is exposed to harsh winds and the elements.

The two tower cranes work together to save time moving materials accross the site.

Look towards Block A with the foundations completed.

A view from the portacabins towards Block C showing the arm from the concrete pump depositing to the base concrete.

The underground car parks for Block C on the left and Block B far right.

A view from behind the flats at the bottom of Station Road East shows another angle of Block C.

On the far left showing the entrance to Block C, behind the houses in Johnsdale.

A view of the site from the Johnsdale entrance showing Block C on the right and Block B on the left with Block A adjoining Block B. All 111 high-quality apartments enjoy a private outside space.

There are two separate entrances to the development. Blocks A and B via the current Station Road East entrance and Block C via the current Johnsdale entrance, there is no cross over point between Block C to Blocks A and B due to the different levels. The landscaped gardens are communal.

Inside Robert Leech Estate Agents.

If you would like to find out more about purchasing one or just to satisfy your curiosity, call into Robert Leech Estate Agents on Station Road East, you’ll also get to see the model of the development, they are very friendly in there, just ask to speak to Suzanne Buck from the St William Group or her colleague Geraldine Nightingale both assigned to the development.

That’s all for now, I’ll be back again next month with my February site visit.

Thanks for reading.

Stella