“Let the Women Come Forward” seems like a fitting motto for Queens Court. This red brick building in Hampstead Garden Suburb stands as a testament to a pioneering vision. We are standing in front of Queens Court. It provided suburban flats for working women in 1927.
Queens Court was the brainchild of the United Women’s Homes Association. The Association understood the need for affordable housing for women. Their headquarters, Murray House, followed a year later near Victoria Station. It also offered flats for low-wage earning women.
Henrietta Barnett, founder of Hampstead Garden Suburb, personally backed the Queens Court project. Some say even Lutyens favored it. Queens Court harmonizes seamlessly with the Neo-Georgian suburban ideal.
Hendry and Schooling designed Queens Court. The building consists of sixteen two-story ranges. Open loggias grace the rear of the building. Originally, it featured groups of single bedrooms. Shared kitchens and bathrooms fostered a sense of community. Later in the 20th century, the layout was altered to create self-contained flats.
Note the hipped tiled roofs and wooden casements. These details exemplify the Vernacular Revival style. Queens Court earned its Grade II listing in 2004. This recognizes its contextual Arts and Crafts development. It also acknowledges its strong historic interest. Its links to Henrietta Barnett are direct. It provided crucial social housing for working women.
Queens Court represents a significant chapter in social housing history. It stands as a monument to the United Women’s Homes Association. It offered independence and dignity to working women in a burgeoning suburb. It offered affordable housing for women in London. The flats in Queens Court provided a safe and comfortable living environment. It empowered women to pursue their careers and personal lives.
Queens Court remains a residential building today known as Stills Flats. It reminds us of the ongoing need for affordable housing. It serves as an example of innovative solutions. It also stands as a tribute to the women who shaped our society.