A Brief History of Lancaster Court Community Hall

Background

Lancaster Court Estate was built as part of the post-war regeneration of the old ‘Fulham Borough’ and stands on the site of ‘The avenues’, a colloquially defined area of late Victorian and Edwardian terraced properties that had very basic amenities.

Some of the original families who lived in these houses were re-housed in the newly build flats of the Lancaster Court Estate. In comparison, these flats were considered at that time to be luxury housing, with their bathrooms, constant hot water, kitchen with built-in fidges, crittal windows, and tiled flooring. It was also possible to rent a separate ‘pram shed’ for the storage of the baby’s prams, pushchairs, and bicylcles.

These ‘Pram Sheds’ were grouped in convenient areas around the estate of which, with the exception of a few in the basement area of one of the blocks, none now remain. Their use had gradually declined and they, together with the communal lighting of those areas, became subject to acts of vandalism by the groups of children who congregated there after dark. This led to many complaints from the residents resulting in the Council deciding to demolish these areas - the largest of which was located adjacent to the electricity sub-station and opposite Block 106-130.

The Community Hall

The original development of Lancaster Court Estate did not include a Meeting Hall for the use of the residents. It soon became apparent that, with the later building of Swan and Ravensworth Courts increasing the original number of dwellings from 163 to 223, an estate of this size without a Community Hall was unacceptable. Residents had developed a very close identity with the estate on which they lived and now wanted to arrange social activities and to take a more active part in matters that directly concerned them, the estate and their community.

After many requests, in the late 1970’s the now London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham agreed to provide us with a Hall.

This proved to be a temporary wooden prefabricated building that had originally been used as council offices whilst new office space was being developed. It was sited on waste ground following the demolition of Rowton House, a hostel for homeless men in Hammersmith Road opposite the old WEst London Hospital. This history of this prefabricated wooden building is not known prior to this date. When this site was developed this temporary building was dismantled and taken to Glenthornee Road where it was relocated on the vacant site adjacent to the building, which is currently the Housing Centre. This wooden building was then used by the Housing Department as additional office space.

Following the councils decision to provide a Community hall on Lancaster Court Estate, part of this building was again dismantled, tansported to the estate and re-assembled on the site of the demolished Pram Sheds.

This building has served the estate well for many years but has now deteriorated both structurally and aesthetically. ITs construction, which does not meet the current requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act or Building Regulations, restricts its usage for many activities, meetings and functions.

Derek Finch

Chair LCTRA