Original art deco
Grade II-listed art deco: 1930s Messrs Joseph and Sir Owen Williams-designed property in Great Easton, Essex
To many of you out there, this 1930s Messrs Joseph and Sir Owen Williams-designed art deco property in Great Easton, Essex is probably the dream.
It’s the dream on two accounts. Firstly, the architecture itself, which is grade II-listed in light of its importance / design. But secondly, because this is a rare example of a house pretty much unchanged and untouched since the 1930s.
The house was designed for W. F. Crittall. Yes, from that Crittall family. This was the second son of Francis Henry Crittall, the founder of the much-loved window company.
According to the agent, W. F. Crittall (aka Pink) was ‘the main artistic and technical driving force of the firm during its most successful period’, as well as a creative influence on the house you see here.
That house dates from 1934 and sits in five acres of land. It’s a two-storey house, with outbuildings too, the latter offering some versatility, not least if you want visitors or perhaps a home office. More on that later.
For now, let’s look at the house, which is, as we said, a tribute to both the original design and the original interior. There is so much to appreciate here, from the staircase (of course) through to the fireplaces, the doors and door fittings, the fitted furnishings, the light fittings, the wall coverings (the original paper is still in place), the use of colour and of course, the windows. Yes, lots of lovely Crittall windows and doors.
If you want originality, you will struggle to find anything like this for some time.
As for the layout, the front door is reached via a ‘glazed atrium’ and leads into a hallway with star-patterned wood floor and glazed doors that open out onto the terrace and gardens.
To the west are two reception rooms, as well as a shower room. The main reception room with that original 1930s wallpaper, door handles and other period touches. The second reception is a smaller, but equally stylish space.
To the east is the octagonal dining room which connects to the kitchen via a hatch. Also here is a larder and pantry and further along, a study beside the dining room. The floor is completed with a later (1956) annexe overlooking the garden, which could be a bedroom, a studio or home office. It has a separate entrance, so could be self-contained space if you need that.
A stunning staircase is ‘encased in a glazed tower’ that leads to the six bedrooms. The master bedroom overlooks the gardens and has access to a balcony plus a small en-suite bathroom. There are also two family bathrooms and a laundry room up here.
Steps up to a boiler room too, as well as the flat roof, so you can survey all of your land.
The principal outbuilding was originally designed as an art studio and now incorporates a bedroom and bathroom. The space has floor to ceiling glazed windows and adjoins a double garage. On the other side of the garage are storage rooms arranged over two floors. There are two further outbuildings in the grounds.
As for the outside, there are those five acres, which include the main outbuilding (originally an art studio but now with a bedroom and bathroom), along with a double garage, storage rook and two additional outbuildings. The gardens are also faithful to the original design, with formal areas, orchards, a vegetable garden, a tennis court, a ‘badminton garden’ and a ‘laundry garden’.
£1,500,000 could make you the next owner of this gem.
Images and details courtesy of The Modern House. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
