1960s Fry, Drew & Partners midcentury modern house in Kemsing, Sevenoaks, Kent
A rare opportunity to move into a 1960s Fry, Drew & Partners midcentury modern house in Kemsing, Sevenoaks, Kent.
I have spotted one or two of these in the past, but they don’t seem to come up often. Hence the ‘rare opportunity’ to live here. An opportunity worth considering too.
The house is, I believe, part of a larger group designed by Fry, Drew and Partners back in 1964. In fact, the houses were featured in House and Garden magazine at the time of construction, no doubt because of the boldness of design and perhaps the names behind them.
Those people were Edwin Maxwell Fry and Dame Jane Drew, significant figures in 20th-century British architecture. Fry actually worked alongside Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius and was a significant mover when it came to modernism in the UK.
Much of their work has been listed by English Heritage, but not this one. Although there is much to love in terms of the design and details of these houses, as well as the location, which is a historic village in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to the North Downs.
What I would say about this house is that it perhaps needs a refresh. There are plenty of original details here, but a few subsequent updates might not be to your taste.
I’m mainly talking about the kitchen, bathroom and some of the finishes, which haven’t aged as well as the original 1960s detailing. Doesn’t seem significant though. Kitchens and bathrooms come and go and the rest is just decor and personal taste.
Look beyond that and you will see plenty of original touches, including the beams, some exposed brick, wood panelling, shelving and light fittings and some rather cool high-level windows in the master bedroom. The basis for something very stylish.
As for the layout, the front door opens into a ‘generous’ entrance hall, with stairs leading to the first floor. But staying on the ground floor, you have the large triple aspect living/dining room with exposed brick chimney housing plus pine ceiling beams and cladding. Lots of light and space, along with sliding doors to the garden. Note that there are carpets now, but according to the agent, the original solid oak flooring is still in place below. That’s a big plus.
Beyond that is a further reception room, plus a large kitchen area with hatch and breakfast area, a ‘good sized’ study and a shower room.
Head upstairs and you will find four ‘spacious’ bedrooms featuring asymmetric roof lines and high-level windows. he master bedroom is described as ‘huge’ and with plumbing in place to fit an en-suite shower room as some of the neighbouring properties have done. There is also a south-facing balcony accessed from the landing, a family bathroom and additional eaves storage space above the kitchen, which is accessed from bedroom three.
As for the outside, you get a driveway for off-road parking, a double garage with additional workshop space, a large patio and a well-maintained and private garden with plenty of lawn.
£635,000 is the asking price of this one.
Images and details courtesy of Humberts. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
