Southcourt

Southcourt is a housing estate in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England. Building commenced in the early 1920s through to the mid-1930s and only stopped because of the Second World War. It was turned into a post war housing estate during the years of 1946 and 1955. The area is named after the pig farm over which the housing estate was built.HistoryThe oldest house in Southcourt is in Cottesloe Road on the junction of Clover Lane. This was the original farmhouse built at the start of the 20th century. The first sod for the rest of the estate was cut in 1922 by The Duke of York: hence one of the first roads of the estate was named York Place in his honour. At the time the housing was publicised as "Homes for Heroes", and the first houses on the estate were reserved solely for veterans of the First World War.Until 1967, there used to be a 'Halt' at what is now the pedestrian crossing from Southcourt to Stoke Road. The 'Aylesbury South Halt' as it used to be known, was on the ex GWR (originally broad gauge) line to Princes Risborough and High Wycombe, a stop for the train into Aylesbury to pause for any passengers who wanted a short train journey into the centre of town. It comprised a small wooden platform and shelter.The pre-war part of the estate consists of terraced and semi-detached redbrick and rendered houses, as well as blocks of low rise flats. The post war houses are built at a higher density and of brick, concrete and steel with timber (now plastic) cladding.The estate gained national notoriety in 2001, when it became one of the areas across the country to be affected by racial riots. This included a stand-off involving armed police, national front supporters, and a 60-strong gang of Asian and black youths.