IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Spitfire Chase, WALTON-ON-THAMES, KT12 1FY

High quality office complex built for Bird's Eye Foods in 1960-62 to the designs of Sir John Burnet, Tait & Partners (and sympathetically extended in 1967). The exterior is distinguished by its curtain walling, blue vitreous enamelled panels, aluminium hexagons and mullions (Image]). Grade II listed. The site has been empty for about ten years. The hoardings have gone up since Image Developers Crest A2D want to demolish the buildings in order to build 375 homes. In a way, one can hardly blame them for trying it on - anything to avoid denting profits - but Elmbridge Council will make a mockery of the listing system if it nods it through.

Close-up of the staircase and the building's distinctive exterior. Wider view: Image

Walton Court was built in 1960/1 as the headquarters office of Birds Eye to the designs of the architectural practice of Sir John Burnet, Tait and Partners. It was one of the first "out of London town" prestige offices to be built for a major company, and its high architectural quality has merited Grade II Listed status. It is based on a concrete frame with glass cladding and natural anodised aluminium on dark blue vitreous enamelled infill panels. In the centre of the building are two internal courtyards, where Birds Eye used to keep flamingoes and penguins to entertain employees! For a glimpse inside at the time please see the preview of the British Pathé video newsreel http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=2600 There is a view of the opposite end of the building here Image and a close up of the sculpture at that end here Image The sculpture is also shown at the start of the newsreel clip. Walton Court was subsequently occupied by Unilever, but its approximate 175,000 square feet or approximate 16,000 square metres of space is sadly currently empty. The building's website is here http://www.waltoncourt.co.uk/ The building was constructed on the site of a large plot of allotment gardens on Station Avenue, and very close to Walton-on-Thames station.

Walton Court was built in the 1960's and formerly the headquarters building for Birds Eye and Unilever. The Grade 2 listed building is now awaiting new tenants.

The building is empty at the moment but was formerly offices for Bird’s Eye Foods. It was built in 1961-2 to a design by architects Sir John Burnet, Tait and Partners, with Bylander, Waddell and Partners as engineers. The building is Grade II listed. The building reflected the 1960s predilection for geometric op-art forms in the design of its curtain walling which is enhanced by the reflective pool running the length of the building. It has a precast concrete and pre-stressed concrete frame. Floor construction is of high alumina cement (HAC) beams at 700/750 mm intervals, supporting concrete slab floors, giving an office floor span of 42’ (c13m), avoiding internal columns. http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1271706

High quality office complex built for Bird's Eye Foods in 1960-62 to the designs of Sir John Burnet, Tait & Partners (and sympathetically extended in 1967). The exterior is distinguished by its curtain walling, blue vitreous enamelled panels, aluminium hexagons and mullions (Image]). Grade II listed. The site has been empty for about ten years. The hoardings have gone up since Image Developers Crest A2D want to demolish the buildings in order to build 375 homes. In a way, one can hardly blame them for trying it on - anything to avoid denting profits - but Elmbridge Council will make a mockery of the listing system if it nods it through.

They looked very nice inside as well from what I could see through the windows.

Walton Court was built in 1960/1 as the headquarters office of Birds Eye to the designs of the architectural practice of Sir John Burnet, Tait and Partners. It was one of the first "out of London town" prestige offices to be built for a major company, and its high architectural quality has merited Grade II Listed status. It is based on a concrete frame with glass cladding and natural anodised aluminium on dark blue vitreous enamelled infill panels. In the centre of the building are two internal courtyards, where Birds Eye used to keep flamingoes and penguins to entertain employees! For a glimpse inside at the time please see the preview of the British Pathé video newsreel here http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=2600 There is a view of the opposite end of the building here Image and a close up of the sculpture here Image The sculpture is also shown at the start of the newsreel clip. Walton Court was subsequently occupied by Unilever, but its approximate 175,000 square feet or approximate 16,000 square metres of space is sadly currently empty. The building's website is here http://www.waltoncourt.co.uk/ The building was constructed on the site of a large plot of allotment gardens on Station Avenue, and very close to Walton-on-Thames station.

The memorial was placed here in 2000 commemorating the death on Friday 27th September 1940 of Flight Sergeant Charles Sydney RAF. He was based with 92 Squadron at RAF Biggin Hill and died when his Spitfire (R6767) crashed in Station Avenue by the site of Walton Court.

Modern is actually a design rather than an age, these were probably built around 1970.