Canvey Architect's house.

A new era for the ultra modern 1970's house.

The front entrance showing the distinctive floor to ceiling windows, a design carried through the whole house.

‘The Architect’s House’, that’s how this ultra modern home was always referred to in my family and by other Canvey residents. Since it was built in the 1970s it’s been an unmissable, uniquely designed residence on the corner of Parkway and Furtherwick Road. For years I had walked past it, ridden my bike past it and driven past it but had never had the chance to see what it looked like inside – and I was very curious.

Then quite by chance in November 2017 I got to know Sheila Brooks, whose husband Norman was the architect who designed, built and lived in the house where the 2 of them brought up their family. Sadly Norman had then just recently passed away and Sheila, finding the house a bit too large for her now, decided she was going to sell it. When clearing out all the things that had been collected over a lifetime of family living she invited me to visit and pick some items up she thought might be of use to the Canvey Archive. Not only was I given a cup of tea but I also had a guided tour.

Having the garden come right into the lounge was an innovative idea at the time.

I wasn’t disappointed because the interior was just as sleek and streamlined as the exterior. I asked Sheila if I could take some photos and to my delight she agreed. She has since moved out to a home elsewhere on the Island. With the new owners undertaking internal alterations it’s good to know we have a record of what it originally looked like. Just the sort of task the Archive was set up to do.

(Editor: There is an interesting article about Norman Brooks on the Benfleet Community Archive which you can access here.)

One wall had floor to ceiling storage hidden behind sleek, unobtrusive doors.

Comments about this page

  • Lovely to see my family home live on even though it’s only in pictures now.

    By Petra Boswell nee Brooks (03/08/2022)

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