Draft:Peter Aldington

Peter John Aldington was born on 14 April 1933 in Preston, Lancashire, to Edna (née Entwisle), a piano teacher and homemaker, and Dr John Aldington, a chemist involved in modern lighting innovations. Dr Aldington played a pioneering role in the development of fluorescent and other modern lighting, eventually becoming Managing Director of Siemens Brothers UK and Vice Chairman of Associated Electrical Industries.

Peter's early interests included gardening and woodworking, passions that would later influence his architectural philosophy. He pursued architecture at Manchester School of Architecture, graduating in 1956.

While at university, Aldington co-founded the student architectural magazine 244, named after the address of the School of Architecture. The magazine attracted contributions from prominent figures and culminated in the 1956 exhibition Turn Again Manchester at Manchester Town Hall. He was also an avid photographer and mountaineer, drawing inspiration from Scottish crofts and timber mountain hostels.{{cite web |title=Peter Aldington biography |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5965e548440243ce8c576211/t/5a251785085229cadee65cbe/1512380299349/Peter+Aldington+biography.pdf |publisher=Turn End |access-date=26 May 2025}}

After graduating, Aldington joined the London County Council Architects Department in the housing division. Following a year, he undertook National Service in the Royal Air Force, stationed on the Dutch-German border, where he was attached to a photo-reconnaissance squadron and managed the darkroom. Upon completing his service, he returned to the LCC and later worked for the Timber Research and Development Association. In 1963, he established his own architectural practice.

Between 1964 and 1968, Aldington and his wife Margaret designed and built Turn End, a cluster of three houses—The Turn, Middle Turn, and Turn End—and a garden on a half-acre plot in Haddenham. The project aimed to integrate contemporary design with the surrounding village context, using local materials and a strong relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces. The houses were constructed with rendered concrete block walls and shallow monopitch roofs, incorporating elements of the local vernacular architecture.{{cite web |title=Middle Turn, The Turn, Turn End, and Retaining Walls and Pool |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1375663 |publisher=Historic England |access-date=26 May 2025}}

Turn End received a Royal Institute of British Architects Award for Architecture in 1970. In 1998, the houses were listed at Grade II by English Heritage, with the listing upgraded to Grade II* in 2006, a rare honour for post-war housing.{{NHLE|desc=Middle Turn, The Turn, Turn End, and retaining walls and pool |num=1375663|accessdate=27 May 2025}}. The accompanying garden, designed by Aldington between 1965 and 1976, is also listed at Grade II for its design interest and integration with the house.{{cite web |title=Garden at Turn End, Haddenham |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1445345 |publisher=Historic England |access-date=26 May 2025}}

Aldington later co-founded the architectural firm Aldington, Craig and Collinge, which became renowned for its residential projects. All nine houses completed before his retirement have been listed for their architectural significance, with two achieving Grade II* status. In recognition of his contributions, Aldington was appointed OBE in 1986.

In 1998, the Turn End Charitable Trust (now the Turn End Trust) was established to preserve the house and garden for public benefit. The Trust offers educational programs, workshops, and events aimed at promoting architecture, landscape design, and horticulture.{{cite web |title=Turn End - a garden & three houses |url=https://www.turnend.org.uk/ |publisher=Turn End |access-date=26 May 2025}}

Peter Aldington married Margaret in 1962, and together they embarked on the Turn End project shortly thereafter. As of 2025, they continue to reside at Turn End, maintaining the house and garden that have become emblematic of Aldington's architectural ethos.

• Royal Institute of British Architects Award for Architecture (1970)
• Officer of the Order of the British Empire (1986)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.turnend.org.uk/ Turn End – Official site]
• [https://turnend.wordpress.com/ Turn End Trust]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNV1_EKo7Tg Peter Aldington and Turn End – video interview]

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