St William

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens - Prospective Book

 

A view from behind Johnsdale and behind the shops on Station Road East, Oxted in 2018

 

Here in Oxted we used to have a gasholder that sat in the centre of our town for over 50 years!

That all changed in 2019 when demolition began to make way for 111 high-end apartments and penthouses.

Having had a business right next to this landmark for 23 years I made it my mission, whenever the time came for it to go, to photograph the process for posterity.

The demolition and build took place between January 2019 and March 2022. St William, part of the Berkeley Group granted me access on a regular basis to document the process. With the help of the Assistant Site Manager, I wrote monthly blogs to share my experiences and record the process. I was amazed and captivated by the many stages, craftsmanship, and people involved throughout this time, I learned so much.

My intention was, and still is, to create a coffee table picture-led book showing the changes on the site. I just didn’t want hundreds of images laying dormant on my hard drives. So, it is through the photographs taken I share the story of the time the gas holder came tumbling down making way for a wonderful new living space – Eden place, formerly known as Courtyard Gardens.

If you would like to receive a prospectus about purchasing the proposed book please register your interest here.

 

During demolition early 2019.

 
 

A vast space for the process to begin.

 
 

Courtyard Gardens now called Eden Place in Oxted, Surrey.

 

To read the previous 27 blogs about Courtyard Gardens click here and scroll to the bottom of the Blog page under ‘Featured’ where they all appear.

Thanks Stella

 

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens March 2022

 

The water feature at Courtyard Gardens has an industrial finish, in recognition of the gas holder that once sat on the site for over 50 years. To see how the site once looked go back to the beginning of these blogs to January 2018.

 

Welcome to Blog number 27 about my March visit to Courtyard Gardens here in Oxted, built on the former gasholder site now called Eden Place.

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

 
 

A model of the development at Robert Leech Estate Agents on Station Road East, Oxted, just opposite Eden Place – the new name of the road Courtyard Gardens sits in.

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

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…

 

The gasholder taken on 5 March 2018

 
 

Same view taken 9 March 2022 - Hardwick House (Block C)

 
 

Photograph taken 17 August 2020 the same viewpoint as below

Photograph taken 9 March 2022 the same view point as above

 

I hope you have enjoyed following the progress from start to finish of Courtyard Garden (Eden Place) here in Oxted?

It has been a real honour and education to have been given access to document to process for posterity.

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

To read the blog from January 2022 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 26 previous blogs in consecutive order.

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. There are a few remaining apartments in Block C, Hardwick House if you are looking to make a purchase.

Thank you

Stella

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens January 2022

 

Welcome to Courtyard Gardens - Oxted

 

Welcome to blog number 26 about my January 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.

Blocks A and B are now complete with Block C – the final part, due for completion March 2022.

 
 
 

A model of the development at Robert Leech Estate Agents on Station Road East, Oxted, just opposite Eden Place – the new name of the road Courtyard Gardens sits in.

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

The photographs in the galleries with more than two pictures 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…

 
 

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 27 January 2022 showing the progress to date.

 
 

THEN & NOW

The top photograph taken on 2nd May 2019 from behind the flats in Station Road East. Below the trees and fence in the centre you can see the outline of where the gas holder once sat.

The bottom photograph is the same viewpoint on 27th January 2022.

 
 

On the day of my visit the apartments in Block C were nearing completion and the gardens almost planted and ready for Spring time. There was a lovely waft from a sweet-smelling shrub as I wandered through the gardens. It does look and feel like a wonderful place to live.

The office cabins that once sat next to Block C and behind Block B have been taken down making way for landscaping and the finishing of the gardens.

 

Eden Place – the name of the road Courtyard Gardens is located.

 

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 November 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 25 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. The last few remaining apartments in Block C, Hardwick House are well worth looking at.

Looking forward to going back in the next few weeks to photograph the progress as we edge closer to completion.

Thank you

Stella

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens November 2021

 

The car park entrance to Block C - Hardwick House Courtyard Gardens.

 

Welcome to blog number 25 about my November 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.

Blocks 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 development.

Block C – Hardwick House top centre and right, with Block B – Beecham House on the left , adjoining this back left Block A – Atkinson 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 23 November 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…

Before and after – on the left photographed on 29 August 2018 and on the right on 23 November 2021. A view from Station East opposite the entrance to Courtyard Gardens.

 
 

On the day I visited the majority of the brick work on Block C was complete with the hoist and silo now removed. With decorations continuing within the apartments terraces and balconies. Landscaping continues and permanent seating benches in place. The water feature is nearing completion.

 
 
 

A view from behind the flats on Station Road East during the demolition process photographed on 27 March 2019

The same view point as above showing Block C – Hardwick House photographed on 23 November 2021.

 

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 October 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 24 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 for the final weeks as we edge closer to completion.

Thank you

Stella

Oxted Gasholder - Courtyard Gardens September 2021

 
Courtyard Gardens – Block B on the right adjoining Block A.
 

Welcome to blog number 23 about my September 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.

 
SMS Creative Photography -Stella Scordellis -20200124 Build122.jpg
 

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

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

The photographs featured in this blog were taken on 3 September 2021 onsite showing the progress to date.

The photographs in the gallery 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…

 
 

Now that the development is nearing completion it’s fascinating to compare the photographs taken during construction to the ones taken before the gas holder was demolished as the examples above and below.

This personal project has taught me so much about the building process from demolition back in January 2019 until now. From the foundations and footings to the types of bricks that are used and all the skilled trades and craftspeople involved to make this happen – not forgetting everyone working behind the scenes from the designers & architects to the team working onsite in the office (portacabins) and everyone in between to pull everything together.

I have been very fortunate to have been given access to go onsite regularly over the past nearly two years to photograph the changes for posterity. A huge thank you to the Berkeley Group for accepting my request to photograph the process and to Ness Kingham - Assistant Site Manager, for showing me around each time and telling or rather teaching me about the works and processes taking place.

I asked Ness to give a brief update about the stage the site was at during my visit and this is what she said:

We were preparing for the handover of Block B, undertaking final decorations, cleaning and podium landscaping. Internal trades and brickwork were continuing in Block C’.’

 
 
 
 
 
 

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 July 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 22 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 June 2021

 
SMS Creative Photography -20210623 Build 012.jpg
 

A view from a penthouse terrace in Block C showing the top of the hoist in the foreground, the shops in Station Road East on the right and Block A on the left.

 
SMS Creative Photography -Stella Scordellis -20200124 Build122.jpg
 

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

Block A on the right with Block B adjoining back centre and Block C on the left.

Block A is Atkinson House, Block B is Beecham House and Block C is Hardwick House.

Welcome to blog number 21 about my June 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.

The photographs featured in this blog were taken on 23 June 2021 showing the progress to date. It has changed a lot since my previous visit in May. It was lovely to see some residents had moved in and made their balconies homely. I can see the site beginning to change from a building site to a resplendent community now called Eden Place.

The photographs 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…

 
 
 
 

Each time I attend the site I’m shown around by Ness Kingham, Assistant Site Manager. Below she explains the stage the development was at during my visit:

Externally, lighting bollards were being installed in the landscaping area, works were underway forming the structure of the water feature, and another section of pathway through the landscaped gardens had been freshly laid with tarmac.

The Block B scaffold was being struck and brickwork was progressing around the Block B basement linking it to the Block C brickwork.

Internally, joinery and second fix dry lining were underway to the lower floors of Block C and cables were being pulled. Meanwhile, in Block B, decorations were continuing in the apartments and the stair core was being boarded out ready for plastering.

The basement was starting to be cleared of equipment and materials to allow for decorations and snagging, and a push was being made to get the necessary materials distributed before the impending crane dismantle in mid-July. At the time of the visit, the tower crane was being serviced.

 
 

From the top of Snatts Hill – a comparison to show on the left taken in January 2019 and on the right in June 2021.

 
 

I hope you are enjoying seeing and learning about the progress of the development, I know I am.

All of the images taken are held within my personal archive for posterity.

To read the blog from May 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 20 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 July to photograph the progress to share.

Thank you

Stella