The Lawn...

Harlow has the distinction of being the home of the first modern-style residential Tower Block in England - The Lawn, in Mark Hall North was built in 1951 and is of such historical importance that it is now a Grade II listed building. It's design was clever in as much that every property had a south-facing sitting room in spite of there being 4 properties per floor. Sir Frederick Gibberd personally oversaw the pegging out for the foundations on the ground as the block had to be built with regard to the seven established oak trees which surround it.

The Lawn takes its name from the lawns of Mark Hall which used to be nearby. Indeed one of the Park Lodges still stands further along the road - look...

...I wonder how many people who walk or cycle past that regularly have no idea of the history of this unusual looking building!

How sad that a style of housing which originally started out so carefully planned and thoughtfully built has - thanks to the 1960's and 1970's trend towards high-rise block -  now become synonymous with all that is bad about the way people can be forced to live.

Have you ever lived in The Lawn? Or indeed in that Park Lodge? It would be lovely to hear some stories of the places direct from the people who have lived there.