Opposite on the junction with Jessamine Road is one of the best designs: Nos. 59-63 by W. Alexander Harvey & A. McKewan. It is built of red brick with coggingGlossary Term below the eavesGlossary Term and tile hung full height bayGlossary Term windows, reminiscent of some of Harvey's early Bournville cottages.

Next, one of the most distinctive designs: Nos. 39-41, by Claude Batley of London. It has a "Noah's ArkGlossary Term" roof (hipped mansardGlossary Term) and dormers.

On the north side of Primrose Avenue, Nos. 50-2 by C. J. Innocent & Son, has two-bedrooms under a gambrel roofGlossary Term. Similar styles of house were built in Letchworth in 1905 and the design seems to have enjoyed some popularity for the cheapest type of cottage, with a number of examples illustrated in Lawrence Weaver's "Country Life Book of Cottages".

Also in Primrose Avenue, the attractive Nos. 17-19 by Pepler & Allen of Croydon. These are perhaps the closest to the traditional Garden Suburb image with rounded tops to the ground floor windows; prominent brick arches above them and a roughcastGlossary Term upper storey.

Next a terrace of four houses, Nos. 9-15 by J.C. Brameld & Son with the centre pair distinguished by being slightly higher than the other two.

Back on FOXGLOVE ROAD to the S, Nos. 161-163 with half-timbered gables are by Benton & Roberts.

To serve all this housing, although located on the edge of the estate and having no visual relationship with it, there is one especially good inter-war church: ST HILDA, Windmill Lane by Leslie Moore, one of his best designs. Drawings were produced in 1922-23 for a church with a crenellated tower and windows with GothicGlossary Term curvilinear traceryGlossary Term, a design which mirrored Temple Moore's conception at St Mary, Nunthorpe. By the time funds were raised in 1935, the design was modified. On sharply sloping land, the church appears long and low from the road but towers above the valley on the N side. Temple Moore's influence is still evident in such details as the lancets and the individually designed capitals of the piers. The extensive glazing represents Leslie Moore's first attempt at flooding an interior with natural lightGlossary Term and the effect is enhanced by the open scissor braced roof of unstained pine. A very effective oak chancelGlossary Term screenGlossary Term (well classicised by George Pace in 1952) provides the only decoration. C18 organ case from St James' church.

Click to enlarge

Sheffield, Flower Estate, Church