Pioneering Tottenham estate to host walking tours for Open House next month

Tower Gardens Estate was built from 1904 to 1928 as a leading example of the arts and crafts movement, writes Raphael Henry

Tower Gardens Road (credit Ruth Crowley)

A historic Tottenham housing estate which was one of the first garden suburbs in the world will host architectural walking tours in September.

The Tower Gardens Estate, between Lordship Lane and The Roundway, was built from 1904 to 1928 as a leading example of the arts and crafts movement.

On Sunday ,21st September, the estate will be open to the public as part of the Open House Festival, which celebrates London’s rich architectural history.

Visitors can take self-guided tours from 10am or attend an architect-led walking tour at 2pm. Residents will be present throughout the day to provide historical information about the estate and its importance.

In previous years, the day has also featured bake sales to fund improvements to the estate.Rruth Crowley, an occupational therapist and resident of Tower Gardens who organises the tour, said: “It’s an oasis in the middle of London – you might think you were in a little village.

“When I moved here, people only had negative things to say about Haringey.

“Now, we have a growing and thriving community network.”

The 954-house estate was designed by architect William E. Riley as a “garden suburb” where humans and nature could coexist.

Originally built to rehouse Jewish workers from Tower Hamlets, Jewish entrepreneur Samuel Montagu (1832-1911), later Lord Swaything, the Liberal MP for Whitechapel, donated £10,000 – over one million pounds today – to fund the project.

The estate is now an Article 4 conservation area, meaning residents have strict requirements to preserve the original features of the houses.

For more information about visiting Tower Gardens as part of the Open House Festival:
Visit programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/2192

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