Description : Gallery

History >> Description

The land on which Mulberry Close now stands was enclosed in 1840 and by the beginning of the 20th century there was a brick works on the site. Prior to the development of the area as housing, a local company, Grays the sports equipment manufacturer, built and owned tennis courts on the site, adjoining a small factory that stood on the Ellis House site (now a retirement home).

In 1962 Peploe and Partners developed Mulberry Close. The architect was Peter Boston, son of Lucy Boston, the writer of children's books who still lives in the family's Norman house in Hemingford Grey.

Peter designed five house types of which three were chosen and built. The inspiration for numbers 14-29 was Danish housing and roof lines, while the smaller houses were based on a contemporary development in Paddington, London. The three-storey Town Houses were to have had balconies at the rear of the buildings but these were omitted because of financial constraints. Several owners have since installed balconies.

The planning consent for the development specified that there should be a limited company owned by the shareholders to maintain the communal grounds and thus to develop the Mulberry Close environment.

In 1994 the architect revisited Mulberry Close at the invitation of the Directors. He described how he planned the layout and designed the houses. His idea was based on a village green, with the hope of encouraging the development of a small community and to provide a focus for its activities.

He was gratified that his idea had been realised, and was being maintained with the help of the Mulberry Close Residents' Society, the shareholders and residents.

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