by Robert Williams
Is imitation the greatest form of flattery?
I recently visited the large North Stoneham housing development at the northern end of Stoneham Lane, and was intrigued to see the ‘Old Mansion Collection’ which was designed ‘as an homage to the 20th century British architect, Herbert Collins’.
At first glance the houses do resemble Collins houses with the houses grouped around greens with preserved trees, and the garages tucked away behind the houses. They are built of red brick under pantiled roofs, with small paned windows beneath rubbed brick arches and panelled front doors with semi-circular headed porches. However closer inspection reveals that the bricks are laid in standard stretcher bond, the windows are clumsy uPVC with chunky mullions and heavy mouldings to the projecting bays, and there are shiny plastic boxed eaves. Unlike Collins houses, the plans are generally deeper than they are wide, and the interiors look like any other new house without the distinctive details or purpose-made joinery of a true Collins house.
It’s certainly a beautiful wooded site with a far better layout than the jumble of individual houses on the rest of the development but, as our estate approaches its centenary, I wonder what these new houses will be like in 100 years time?