1950s Kenneth Proctor modern house in Holymoorside, Derbyshire
Looking to move to the country? You might want to consider this 1950s Kenneth Proctor modern house in Holymoorside, Derbyshire, which has just had a price reduction.
Amazingly, this house dates back to the 1950s, although not all of it does. The house has been extended, with the final extension in 1976 taking the floor space up to 3,800 sq. ft. in total. So quite a place.
Of course, that could also mean that the house looks disjointed. But this one was designed by the architect for his own family and lived in for 25 years, taking in all of the extensions.
With the same architect at the helm, but accommodation is fairly sprawling, but it does all look to join together well. Ok, some details look more 1970s than 1950s, but there is an overall midcentury modern vibe to the place.
Perhaps it needs some work to bring some spaces up to date. But for me, it’s more a case of the finish rather than the house itself. Just a touch of freshening up here and there.
After all, there are some amazing details in this place that you really want to preserve and make the most of. That includes the wooden vaulted ceilings, the internal stone walls, that amazing circular staircase with wood cladding and full-height windows for example.
But there’s also the appeal of the architecture itself, which you would probably class as a countryside take on midcentury modern and a house designed for its location.
Very much a part of the landscape, the house is ‘perched’ upon the Holymoorside valley, with the design offering some exceptional far-reaching views across the Derbyshire countryside. A huge selling point and with that glazing and a large balcony allowing you to take full advantage of that position.
Talking of land, you get two acres of Derbyshire countryside all to yourself too, which is a wonderful bonus in the spring and summer months.
But ultimately it’s the house that is for sale and with that in mind, perhaps we should talk about the living space in this one. The main entrance can be found at the head of a private driveway and past the front gardens, which are mainly lawn, but with a 400-hundred-year old oak tree still in place.
A split-level entrance hall initially takes you to the earliest 1950s section of the house and as such, the main living areas. A sliding timber door offers a division between the living and dining rooms and with picture windows framing the views across the valley.
A snug, overlooking the garden, is to the rear of this space and the kitchen sits is just across from it. Note the kitchen has been updated recently, although space and layout are much the same as it originally was.
On the opposite side of the entrance hall are two bedrooms, both sharing a family bathroom. Yes, the one with the sunken bath. Both still have the original Crittall windows and Crittall doors accessing the garden, along with 1950s light fittings, and bespoke in-built wardrobes. Across from here is a further bedroom, shower room and reception room, which could be used as ‘self-contained’ living space in this section of the house.
The later additions to the house are accessed via the feature wood-panelled circular stone staircase. It really is quite something. The master bedroom suite is positioned off to one side of a long split-level landing, with a separate bathroom opposite.
At the furthest end of the upper floors is the most impressive space, described as ‘The Great Chamber’ by the architect himself and with a feature fireplace at its heart. It has the lot, including the pitched roof and wood-panelled ceiling, full-height glazing and a large terrace, accessed via a set of sliding doors. More sliding doors at the opposite end of the room give access to the garden and a large pond.
Talking of the gardens, they cover those two acres and sit across multiple levels, all well-maintained over the years. Sadly the tennis court is no longer in place, but the garden spring, once the only water source, is still operational.
Finally, away from the house at the foot of the driveway is a detached garage and a games room, which could work as separate annexe accommodation if you need it. A pair of outhouses also offer additional external storage.
So a lot of house and a lot of land. But now for less money. Yes, this house has been reduced down from an initial £1,200,000 to £995,000. Ok, no one is pretending that is small change. But it might make it a little more affordable if you want something in this part of the world.
Images and details courtesy of The Modern House. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.