WowHaus

This is very special. The 1960s Mervyn Seale-designed Parkham Wood House in Brixham, Devon is up for sale.

It looks like a 1960s time capsule and in some ways it is. But perhaps not as much as you initially think. Why? Well, a bit of detective work offers a little recent background to this one. The agent has this dating to 1960 and many of the features of this grade II-listed modernist gem are still intact. That’s down to both preservation and renovation.

I believe the house was last for sale around a decade ago, with an old Modern House listing still lurking on the internet. The images on that are not particularly clear, but they show a house that really was a time capsule back then, one that had been kept pretty much as it was for around four decades.

The house then sold and an article here highlights the work carried out by (presumably) the current owners. That work was to bring it back to its best.

That involved spending a hefty amount on restoring the original roof, redecorating the front of the house (not an easy job) and any rotting timber replaced by carpenters.

Other smaller details were also dealt with, such as cracked glass and broken panels, rewiring and working on the interior. The latter seems to be a case of working with the original features to bring the ‘60s space back to life. The fact that it can be mistaken for a time capsule emphasises that it was a job well done.

The tell-tale signs are perhaps the reissued 1960s design pieces scattered around the place and the updated kitchen. But beyond that, it really could pass for a house untouched by time.

It is actually quite surprising to see it looking so good. The house was constructed in just six months and to strict design criteria – it had to be modest in size and lightweight due to its location. The cantilevered house therefore had an open-plan interior to give a feeling of space, despite the width of the house being quite modest.

That’s perhaps the only thing that is modest about this house. The setting, the architecture, the views and of course, that butterfly roof are all features that set this one apart.

Once inside, you’ll also notice a bespoke chandelier of coloured glass and a local limestone wall, as well as glazed sliding doors with mahogany frames accessing a full balcony. Love the wood panels, the ceiling height in the living room, the angled ceilings elsewhere and that open-tread staircase too.

As for the living space, that’s pretty straightforward. The entry level has a garage area for parking and an office located below the kitchen area. The ground floor level has an entrance hall, which in turn leads to the utility room and dining area. The dining space leads off to the cloakroom/WC and the updated kitchen. Of course, the main living space is that eye-catching reception with feature stone wall, open staircase, all of that glazing and access to the balcony. The balcony itself also has a staircase to the driveway.

An upper ground floor houses the master bedroom, two further bedrooms and a bathroom.

As well as the carport, there is room for at least six more vehicles on the driveway, while the rear of the property has a ‘reasonable sized’ garden with summerhouse and patio plus views down towards the town and sea.

£475,000 is the price, which might be a little less than you expected.

Images and details courtesy of Winkworth. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.

Huge thanks to Nick for the tip-off!

Property Location