Laing announced the contract to construct 44 one and two bedroom flats and 6 two bedroom bungalows in June 1985 and the retirement complex was largely complete by the official opening by the Queen Mother in May 1986. One of the homes in the complex was the 3 millionth to be built under the auspices of the National House Building Council's 10 year warranty scheme, in its 50th year. A large 17th century house at one end of the site was refurbished and converted in to flats, warden's accommodation and communal lounge, kitchen and laundry. The house had been the former residence of naturalist Graham Dangerfield in the 1960s who had kept a private zoo on the site where the homes were built.
This image was catalogued as part of the Breaking New Ground Project in partnership with the John Laing Charitable Trust in 2019-20.
This is part of the Series: JLP01/11 John Laing Photographic Collection Colour Negatives And Contact Sheets; within the Collection: JLP01 John Laing Photographic Collection
© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection
Royalty, People, Ceremony