1930s art deco house in Gosforth, Newcastle
You could be just the third owner of this rather lovely 1930s art deco house in Gosforth, Newcastle.
In fact, this is the first time the house has been on the market for 55 years. The first owner built the house to their specification back in 1934. You can take some positives from that.
First, if someone has built a house to their own specification, you can expect it to have some interesting details within—if they have survived. With only two owners since construction, the likelihood of those original details being preserved increases.
I featured an art deco property earlier in the week, and architecturally, it had survived well. But the interior was pretty much completely updated. Because 1930s details rarely got through the 1950s and 1960s, let alone making it into the 21st century.
This one is pretty much the flip of that. The architecture is probably more traditional than the more ‘moderne’ look of that last house. But the original 1930s details are still intact. Not completely—some areas have been updated, as you might expect of a family home—but enough to boost the character and appeal for fans of the era.
The house, which sits in significant grounds, has a look fairly typical of the era, but with some flourishes that help it stand out from the crowd. This was obviously a house of note back in the day. But it’s the interior that really sells it.
Bright, spacious and packed with original character. Details that would be almost impossible to replicate. You just hope someone comes along and falls in love with them. I would hate to see them ending up in a skip.
And there are so many features to talk about. Helpfully, the family has sent some close-ups of details you might not spot at first glance in the agent’s photos. But some are so big that you would struggle to miss them.
The curved staircase is the star of the show. It looks like new, but the family has sent me a picture of it from the original build – it hasn’t changed a great deal over the decades. The hallway was more minimal then, which is still an option if you prefer. Structurally, there’s very little change.
Beyond that, the bathroom is an obvious talking point and a vision in green. You rarely see intact art deco bathrooms. Note also the dining room with the clock built into the wood panelling and the original fire and surround.
Other details include doors, door furniture, the internal bells, the circular skylight, some storage areas, and much more. The photos don’t really do it justice – a viewing almost certainly would.
As I mentioned earlier, there are plenty of more recent updates, too. This certainly isn’t a 1930s time capsule, but it is a house packed with original touches that maintain the character and offer a great starting point if you want to go down that route.
Bags of space, too. The house has what’s described as a ‘unique’ corner entrance, leading through to that stunning reception hall with the statement curved staircase leading to the first floor circular galleried landing. Plenty of natural light here, thanks to the skylight set into the roof above.
Beyond that, there is a cloakroom/WC, a drawing room with a semi-circular bay window and feature fireplace, and a family sitting room with a stone fireplace and cabinetry in the alcoves. There are also large windows and sliding patio doors to the terrace.
The dining room catches the eye with its wood panelling, an original serving hatch into the kitchen, the amazing original fireplace, and the stepped ceiling. There is also a view over the gardens from here. Once upon a time, you could use a foot pedal to get the bells ringing in the kitchen (in the days when you had staff), but sadly, that’s no longer working.
However, the large kitchen/breakfast room still has the original (disconnected) internal bellboard, which you can see in one of the extra images at the end of the page. There was a maid’s parlour, too, but this has now been converted into a study area. Other rooms on this floor include a utility room, a boiler room, and a separate gardener’s WC. There is also a useful larder cupboard and access from the double garage into the main house.
Head up that magnificent staircase, and you’ll find the rest of the living space. That’s made up of a master bedroom with a dressing room and en-suite bathroom/WC, along with four further double bedrooms, one of which has access to the balcony overlooking the rear gardens. Note also the fitted cupboards in the corridor, including original floor-to-ceiling linen closets, plus the family bathroom.
I mentioned the land, which is a selling point in itself. The rear garden has a patio terrace, sitting areas, lawned gardens with mature flower and shrub borders, and mature trees to boost privacy.
To the front of the property is a large open driveway and courtyard leading to the integral double garage and access to paths leading down either side of the house to the rear. There is also a separate single garage to the side of the property.
I think that pretty much covers it. If you want to be the third owner of this one, the house is on the market for offers over £1,450,000.
Images and details courtesy of Sanderson Young. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
Thanks to the family for sending over a few extra images of the original details.
