LUTYENS HOUSES ON THE MARKET

Richard Page’s Property Column, 2023

 

SUSSEX SQUARE, BRIGHTON

In Brighton, the freehold interest in the Sussex Square mansion formerly home to Lady Sackville is for sale.

Listed Grade I, 39-40 Sussex Square dates from the original development of Kemp Town in 1823. This terrace of stucco fronted houses was designed by Amon Wilds and Charles Augustin Busby for the developer, Thomas Read Kemp, after whom the area was named. Thomas Cubitt built a significant proportion of Sussex Square.

In 1916 Lutyens met Victoria, Lady Sackville and they struck up an instant friendship, nicknaming each other MacSack and MacNed. Lutyens altered a number of houses for her including White Lodge, Roedean and houses in Hill Street and Ebury Street in London.

When Lady Sackville purchased in Sussex Square in 1918 Lutyens was commissioned to alter the interior, about which she wrote “MacNed remodelled (39&40) in half an hour in the most wonderful manner. I must admit his genius: it never struck me more forcibly than today, which was fairy-like as if he had touched the houses with a wand”.

This work, alas, was to be short-lived as in the 1930’s the property was converted in to 23 flats. These remain and are now let on Assured Shorthold Tenancies producing an estimated income of £331,500pa. It is the freehold of this historic building of 18,759 sq ft. which is for sale, with a guide price of £7-8 million through Kendrick Property Services.

KILN WOOD COTTAGE, PRESTON, HERTFORDSHIRE

From 1908 to 1911 Lutyens worked on Temple Dinsley, an 18^th Century manor house which had been acquired by Herbert Fenwick (of the Northumberland banking family), enlarging and remodelling to make it more appropriate for entertaining on a grand scale. (The property later became The Princess Helena College which closed as a result of Covid, the estate being sold last year.) Bertie was cousin to Mark Fenwick, owner of Abbotswood in Gloucestershire to which Lutyens had made additions in 1901.

As well as works to the manor house Lutyens also added a home farm and many estate houses and cottages. One of these, Kiln Wood Cottage, built for the estate carpenter in 1912, is for sale.

Located just outside the village in the Green Belt, this Grade II Listed family home has been meticulously restored and maintained by the owners of 39 years. The elevations are of brick under a steeply pitched tile roof with a distinctive central chimney stack. The accommodation, which extends to 2,900 sq ft., includes a drawing room, dining room, sun room, sitting room, study, kitchen/breakfast room, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The garden extends to one third of an acre with views over open countryside. Available through Norgans with a guide price of £1,750,000.

THE CLOCKHOUSE, CROOKSBURY, TILFORD, SURREY

Crooksbury was Lutyens’ first country house at the age of 20 whilst a pupil in the office of Ernest George. This 1889 commission from Arthur Chapman, family friend and chairman of the Farnham Liberals, enabled him to set up his own practice in Gray’s Inn Square. The original house was in the vernacular style with a significant further extension by Lutyens in the neo-Georgian style added for Chapman between 1898-1901. (New owners in 1914 called Lutyens back to remodel this extension into the timber and tile vernacular style that survives today.

Originally the Lutyens outbuildings, stables and cottages for Crooksbury House, The Clockhouse is a striking Grade II Listed family home that has been created by bringing them all together to the designs of local architect Ian Adam Smith. The centrepiece being the 1901 clockhouse with its remarkable ‘Wrenaissance’ style cupola over an elliptically arched throughway.

Beautifully modernised with a contemporary interior finish, the accommodation extends to over 7,200 sq ft and includes entrance hall, drawing room, dining room, sitting room, study, kitchen and breakfast room, utility room, boot room, 2 cloakrooms, 7 bedrooms and 5 bath/shower rooms. Leisure facilities include a tennis court, swimming pool, gymnasium, annexe games room, garaging, gardens and parklike grounds of 6 acres. Available through Hamptons with a guide price of £4,950,000.

 

Richard Page is marketing director of Dexters, London’s largest independent estate agent. He has advised on the sale of many Edwin Lutyens houses during his 35-year career. Do please contact him with any Lutyens-related property news at landseer75@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: prices and availability correct at time of going to press.