With the change in the clocks and the onset of winter looming, pupils at St James Independent School in Twickenham, Middlesex can now look forward to the autumn and winter terms without getting stuck in the mud thanks to specialist sports contractors Active Leisure Contractors.

The School faces directly onto the river Thames and during higher tides, the school playground completely floods, which is why a natural grass field was an un-thinkable option for David Hockley, the architect in charge of this project.

“The playground is the only recreational area on the school site so usage by pupils is high.” Commented David from London based architects, The Design Space. “Ground conditions for natural grass would have quickly created an un-useable mud bath and so artificial grass was chosen so that pupils could continue to use the area throughout the year.”

The real problem for this site was not the playground flooding at high tide but the access. The only route was through the school building and down many steps meaning all major materials were imported by boat via the river.

Andrew Baylis, Director of ALC commented “Because the river is tidal and site floods completely at higher tides, all deliveries and work had to be programmed around the tide table, making this quite an unusual and challenging project.”

 “We specified a long piled sand and rubber filled grass which was ideal for the general play use required. We fixed it securely at the edges to prevent water getting underneath”. “The relevant authorities were sceptical initially but the exceptionally natural look of the grass was instrumental in allowing its use on this highly sensitive and historic site”.

The main school building dates from 1844, and was built by Thomas Young, a tea merchant, which is apparently why it looks faintly reminiscent of a tea caddy. The building itself stands on the site of what was once Alexander Pope’s beautiful white stucco villa (hence the name), which sadly was torn down by the then owner, Baroness Howe, in 1804. However, Pope’s original underground grotto is still on the site, and runs back under the school and main road to St Catherine’s School opposite, which is built on the site of what was Pope’s garden.

Photo Caption: With the change in the clocks and the onset of winter looming, pupils at St James Independent School in Twickenham, Middlesex can now look forward to the autumn and winter terms without getting stuck in the mud thanks to specialist sports contractors Active Leisure Contractors.