1930s William Lescaze modern houses in Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon
Notice the plural. A pair of 1930s William Lescaze modern houses in Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon are now being offered for sale.
Both houses are on the Dartington Hall estate and both form part of the largest collection of William Lescaze’s work outside the US. Grade II-listed of course.
Covering something like 1,200 acres, the Dartington Hall Estate is a historic landed estate in the UK, currently owned and managed by the Dartington Hall Trust, a charitable organisation specialising in the arts and learning. Back in the 1930s, a collection of buildings by William Lescaze (and others) made Dartington Hall famous architecturally famous, with the constructions featuring in magazines and exhibitions, not to mention various travel plans.
Lescaze’s most famous construction here was High Cross House (which I think you can still visit), but there were also boarding houses and other homes in Warren Lane. That’s what we are talking about today.
Two of the William Lescaze houses have suddenly appeared on the market, with at least one (and presumably both) never previously being offered for sale. It’s quite a significant moment for lovers of modern architecture of the era. Details are quite scarce, as are the images. But there is enough here to give you an idea of both houses and what they offer.
The first thing you will notice is that both seem to be faithful to the original design and the second is that both look to have been renovated to different degrees. Whether these have been rented out either as holiday accommodation or long term, I honestly don’t know. But from looking at the kitchen spaces it looks like someone has been here fairly recently, although space has generally been left fairly minimal. Nothing more than that kitchen and a freshen up of the rest of the house, keeping the frame of the houses intact.
I’ll start with the house featured in the first five photos, which sits on a private road at the heart of the Estate, adjacent to The Deer Park and overlooking the stunning Registered Parkland towards the River Dart. The entrance hallway, with cloakroom, leads into a ‘spacious’ living room with exposed wooden floorboards and working feature fireplace. The open plan kitchen has ‘spectacular countryside views’ and leads into a dining area with a glazed door onto the outside terrace.
Stairs lead to the first floor and four bedrooms, three of which have built-in storage cupboards/wardrobes. The large windows make the most of the surrounding views and the master bedroom has a dual aspect and a full-width balcony/terrace overlooking the rear garden. There is also a family bathroom and separate shower room on this floor.
Note that there is also a front and side garden and a large rear garden, plus a garage and off-road parking for one car. It is up for offers in excess of £500k.
Working down the page, the second house, in a similar location to the first, has an entrance hallway, with two large storage cupboards, which leads into a ‘spacious’ living room with wooden floorboards and working feature fireplace. Dual aspect windows and a glazed door to the garden maximise the views and the light here. The kitchen too, plus an outside terrace area.
The first floor has three bedrooms each with large windows making the most of the surrounding views and a family bathroom. The largest bedroom has an original feature fireplace. The property also has from front, rear and side gardens, plus off-road parking space for two cars. That one is up for offers in excess of £400,000.
Images and details are courtesy of Savills. If you want to know more, details of the first house are here and the second house here.
Update:
Another has just gone on the market, this one a little cheaper than the two previous houses above. Again, this is up for the first time on its history and much of what you have read above still applies. This time, 5 Warren Lane is the house in question.
A Grade-II listed property, it sits on a private road at the heart of the Estate and adjacent to The Deer Park and overlooking parkland towards the River Dart.
Like the other two, this is faithful to the original architecture and with original period details still within. But it has been modernised and is a house you could move into immediately.
As for space, the entrance hallway, with storage cupboard, leads into the living room with exposed wooden floorboards and working feature fireplace. Lots of light from the large window too and a glazed door to the rear garden. The kitchen/diner is an updated area, which also has great views and a glazed door onto the outside terrace.
Stairs rise to the first floor which has three bedrooms, with painted wooden floorboards and large windows which make the most of the views. There is also a family bathroom on this floor. Gardens to the front, side and rear, as well as that terrace off the kitchen with a small log store plus off-road parking for two cars.
This one is on the market for offers over £350,000. Again, all details and photos are courtesy of Savills and you can see all the details here.
