Littlecroft, Guildford: a welcome window

Saturday 27 June 2026, 2pm to 3.30pm

21 Guildown Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 4ET

At short notice, in a slim window, we are taking the wonderful opportunity kindly offered by the owners of Littecroft in Guildford to visit, with the assistance of Nicholas Jacobs Architects, who have recently refreshed the house ahead of new occupancy.

Main image: Littlecroft’s north elevation on Guildown Road. © R Breese.

Additional image: taken from Lawrence Weaver, Houses and Gardens by E L Lutyens, 1913.

An ingenious design by Lutyens, Littlecroft was built in 1899 for Mrs Rosine Bowes-Watson. It is sited in Guildford’s Guildown and navigates ground falling steeply to the south from the road.   The  refined geometry and spatial choreography employed recall those used for the Red House in Godalming, which faced similar topographical challenges, in 1897.  Red brick and white roughcast delineate floors and bays.  It is the first house Lutyens would design without gables and with shutters.  It is an early example to incorporate classical elements,  a superb illustration of his evolving repertoire.

Lawrence Weaver, the first and only of the trio with Butler and Hussey to include Littlecroft in his  publication, noted in particular the challenge presented by the site: ‘what seems a low cottage on the entrance front becomes a tall house on the garden side’.  He continues that ‘The little polygonal oriel windows at the angles of walls show how strong Norman Shaw’s influence was in 1899‘.  David Cole, in his monograph on Lutyens’ Arts and Crafts houses,  draws rather on the interests Littlecroft has in common with Lutyens’s Ferry Inn, Les Bois des Moutiers, The Pleasaunce and The Hoo.

The visit will allow delegates to form their own view on this masterful early work and its place in the great architect’s oeuvres.

We are not planning any refreshments but there are several excellent cafes and restaurants in and around Guildford’s High Street.

Of interest in the vicinity of Littecroft, there are also three properties designed by Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott which may be of interest to you, and you may like to walk by in your own time:

8 and 8a Quarry Street – an early C20 restoration of earlier fabric.

How to get there:  

Littlecroft is about 22 minutes’ walk from Guildford’s main train station. There is a taxi rank at the station.  On-street car parking nearby is strictly controlled all week predominantly for resident permit holders but there are a few Pay & Display places.  There are several Car Parks in the town centre – ‘YourParkingSpace’ in Hitherbury Close, GU2 4DR, appears to be the nearest to Littlecroft.

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Neither The Lutyens Trust nor the Leader or Organizer of any event or walk advertised in this Newsletter or any other programme organized by The Lutyens Trust shall be held liable for the death of or injury or damage to the person or property (including theft or loss) of any member of the Trust or any guest or any person occurring during or arising from participation in any of the events advertised in this Newsletter or programme. Members are reminded that they should have adequate personal and travel insurance cover.

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Refunds for cancellations requested may be subject to a £25 administration charge.

Refunds will only be issued for cancellations made no later than 14 days prior to the event start date. It may be possible to make a member substitution if you contact us at least a week in advance of the event.

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If the Lutyens Trust cancels the events, we will refund the event fee in full.

If the Lutyens Trust postpones, reschedules or relocates that event, or makes any other material alterations which mean you are no longer able to attend, we will refund the event fee in full.