Welcome to the website of the Fortescue Park Residents’ Association. Whether you are new to the FPRA or have been here a little while, we hope you will find this website informative and interesting. If you have any suggestions as to how we can improve this website, have questions regarding maintenance and gardens, or simply wish to find out more please contact a committee member (see list below) or Clare Marsden on 0208 755 4428 or drop her an e-mail at [email protected].
Please don’t forget to look at the tradespeople and local services page for a list of contractors that your neighbours have used successfully. Our Facebook group is also a great place to find out information from other residents.
If you want to find out more please contact a committee member or e-mail or check the noticeboards around the estate and our facebook page.
History
Wellesley House was built in about 1850 on land which formed part of the farmstead known as The Lodge, or Twickenham Lodge.
In 1874 Wellesley House was taken over and later enlarged by the Metropolitan and City Police Orphanage. The Orphanage had come first to Fortescue House in the London Road, Twickenham in about 1870, but needed more space. The house was probably named after Lord Fortescue, an early resident.
This is now known as Fortescue House School for Boys where from 1855 to 1858 Richard Doddridge Blackmore, the author of Lorna Doone, was the classics master. With accommodation for 200 children, later extended to house a further 60, Wellesley House was occupied on 25th September, 1874 where the Orphanage was to remain for the next 63 years. In 1937 the boys from Fortescue House moved to Wellesley House in the Hampton Road, previously occupied by the Metropolitan and City Police Orphanage. The extensive grounds were bordered by Wellesley, Hampton and Stanley Roads. Many of the boys from the Police Orphanage stayed on and joined the boys from Fortescue House. The school now took the name of Fortescue House School. It was also known as a ‘barrack school’ since the Shaftesbury Homes (from its various schools) provided 200 trained and disciplined boys for the armed services each year.
The main buildings were demolished and the development of three-storey town houses by Focus 21 Developments Limited, commenced in 1971, being completed in 1974.
What the FPRA does:
The committee is made up of 8 members who are residents living on the estate. Our purpose is solely to arrange the maintenance of the gardens, the walls and all the trees on the estate for which we are legally responsible.
We are volunteers and meet on a monthly basis to discuss the gardens and any other work that is required to keep the estate as lovely as possible.
We are also responsible for upholding the covenants of the estate which serve only to protect the value of our homes.
We manage the financial accounts, including payments from residents and payments to suppliers; and submission of the FPRA Annual Accounts to Companies House.
Each homeowner is automatically a shareholder and is required to participate in the above by paying an annual subscription. This fund pays for the maintenance of the gardens and trees all year round, pays for our legal indemnity and allows us to maintain the walls surrounding the estate and backing on to St James’s School.
Committee Members’ Contact details:
Clare Marsden: Hon. Secretary – mobile 07831 681226 home 0208755 4428 – House No 91
Giles Norman: Chairman – home 0208755 2885 – House No 62
Vanessa Cozens: Gardens & communications – mobile 07765 242817 – House No 6
Charles Owens: Police Liaison & long serving Committee member – home 0208898 4359 – House No 74
Lloyd Reynolds: Maintenance issues – House 6B Wellesley Road
Christine Ryan: Gardens Lead & Estate – House No 49
Madeleine O’Keefe: New Committee member – House No 67
Sam Kamlah-Chapman: Treasurer – House No 8