The building is on the south side of the Lower Richmond road, bordered with Waterman street and Kingsmere close, it lies within the Putney Embankment Conservation Area.[1] Kenilworth Court contains four postcodes, SW15 1EN, SW15 1EW, SW15 1HA and SW15 1HB.[2]
Architecture and history
Kenilworth Court was designed by architect R. C. Overton, it was built from 1902[3] and completed by 1906.[4] The building has Dutch gables, bracketed stone balconies, stone architraves over the windows and iron railings, with 'Kenilworth Court' displayed over the entrance to each block.[5] There are 150 flat with an on site management teams[6] spread between eight mansion blocks.[7] The central courtyard had a tennis court before World War II, it was then used for growing vegetables and is now a managed garden.[8]
It was originally built as rented family accommodation, but between the 1950s and 1970s residents acquired individual apartment leases, and gained freehold of the overall property.[9] In 1976 'Kenilworth Court (Putney) Management Limited' was registered by seven residents under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965.[10] In 1986 the company changed its name to Kenilworth Court Co-Ownership Housing Association Limited,[11] who have managed the building since then.[12]
Notable residents
Kenilworth Court has had several notable residents:
Jaroslav Drobný (1921-2001) was a World No. 1 amateur tennis champion
Carol II (1893-1953) reigned as King of Romania from 8 June 1930 until 6 September 1940. He lived in Flat 113 Kenilworth Court (using Flat 112 Kenilworth Court for his retinue) while in London.
Fred Russell (1862-1957) was an English ventriloquist. Usually credited as being the first to use a knee-sitting figure, he is known as "The Father of Modern Ventriloquism". He lived in Flat 71, Kenilworth Court, between 1914 and 1926.[13]
William Bullerwell (1916-1977) was a British geologist and geophysicist, Chief Geophysicist and Deputy Director of the Institute of Geological Sciences in Britain.
Popular culture
Kenilworth Court has been a filming location for several productions: