book list
This is the first printing of the third edition of a book which was originally called Country Life - Book of Cottages published in 1913. Lawrence Weaver, (1876- 1930), was an architect who became architectural editor for the magazine Country Life.
The book describes the design and construction of houses from two up to eight bedrooms. There are 483 illustrations, more than half of which are black and white photographs of the houses described in the text, the remainder being floor plans. The photographs are reasonably-well reproduced in my copy.
The chapter headings are:
Illustrated by cottages designed by Percy Houfton (at Letchworth), St
Loe Strachey (at Merrow Down), Arnold Mitchell (Merrow), Clough Williams-Ellis
(Merrow Common), and W. Alex. Harvey & Graham Wicks (near Grantham).
Includes a discussion of the "parlour question" which concerns
whether or not cottages should have a parlour, or extra living room on the
ground floor, in addition to the living room and scullery. Also bungalows
are discussed with illustrations of those by Raymond Unwin (at Hollesley
Bay) and Maberly Smith (Henley-on-Thames).
Materials discussed include Cob and Pisé, Clay lump, Welsh slates,
Other slates, Pantiles, Weather-boarding, Timber, Concrete, Stone. There
are several illustrations of a Pisé bungalow at Newlands Corner,
Guildford, designed by Clough Williams-Ellis. Lawrence does not actually
say what Pisé is except that it is a wetter mix than Cob. There are
several illustrations of Ministry of Agriculture cottages at Amesbury. Other
illustrations in this chapter are at Kenninghall, Keediston, Bolnhurst (Llanfairfechan),
Charwood Forest, Goathland, Wonersh, Beaumont (Essex), Yalding, Buckhurst,
Wardie Estate (Edinburgh), Meanwood (Leeds), Gullane, Gyde (almshouses).
This chapter describes houses built in the Palace of Housing and Transport
at the British Empire Exhibition of 1925 (Wembley). Several of the houses
built under the Wembley roof are illustrated by architects Stanley Hamp
(for the Tibbenham Construction Company), Henry Boot & Sons, and others.
The houses use novel materials and methods of construction. There are more
illustrations of houses at other sites, including "Easiform" cottages
for Cumberland and Westmorland Mental Hospital, "Corolite" houses
in Holland, Dorman Long steel-frames houses, and brick houses at Ashtead,
Surrey.
Illustrations of cottages at Bardsey, Bramham Park, Newport (Essex), Debden,
Elmdon, Newburn-on-Tyne, Bournville, Campsea Ashe, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Knebworth,
Painswick, Chobham, Adderbury.
Included in this chapter are houses built in Mitcham designed by Ewart
Culpin and R. S. Bowers as part of a housing scheme by The News of the World.
Illustrations of cottages by architects A. H. Clough, Clough Williams-Ellis
(Foxcombe Hill, Oxford and Burton Court, Herefordshire), C. M. Crickmer
(Gidea Park, Romford), H. A. Welch, Lionel Crane, Arthur H. Moore, Harold
Falkner, Norman Evill (Chepstow).
This chapter describes the Ministry of Agriculture's scheme at Sutton
Bridge Settlement, Lincolnshire (several illustrations). Other small-holder's
cottages are at Holbeach (Lincolnshire), Rolleston (Nottinghamshire), Staffordshire
(J. M. Hotchkiss), Ringmer, East Sussex (Mathew, Ridley & Pearce), Alkham
(Kent), Great Bentley, Essex (John Stuart)
Architects illustrated include Geoffry Lucas, R. T. Longden (at Gidea
Park), Curtis Green, C. Quaife May, Herbert A. Welch (Gidea Park), H. L.
North (at Whylome, Talfer and Gorsefield, Llanfairfechan), Ernest Gimson
(Charwood Forest), E. Turner Powell (Essex), P. Morley Horder (Bromborough,
Cheshire, and Stroud), Halsey Ricardo (Dorset), Leonard Martin (Berkshire).
This chapter concerns the 1912 Country Life competition. Artists impressions
and plans of the first three prize-winners are illustrated (C. F. W. Dening,
Cyril Farey, Geoffry Lucas & Arthur Hodge).
Architects are Forsyth & Maule (at Bourne End, and Boxmoor), Sir Robert
Lorimer (Hill of Tarvit, Balcarres, and Pitkerro), Ascough Chapman, H. S.
Goodhart-Rendel, Sir Edwin Lutyens (Gullane, and Barton St Mary, East Grinstead),
Eric Francis, W. J. Parker (Fernhill Park, Berkshire), Edward Warren (Witley
Park), Walter Brierly (Bishopthorpe), Alan Royds (Dore Moor House, Derbyshire),
Frank Verity (Elmstead Glad, Chislehurst), Ernest George (Lodge, Moor Place,
Esher), Dan Gibson (Hole Herd, Windermere).
There are some before-and-after pictures of buildings which have been
restored or converted. Four cottages into two at Campden, Gloucestershire.
Cottage at Glasfryn before and after renewal (Clough Williams-Ellis). Converted
Oast House at Godington, Kent. Others at Drinkstone (Suffolk), Ipsden (Oxfordshire),
Botley (Hampshire), Bledlow Ridge (Buckinghamshire).
There are some attractive pictures of cottages joined together in small
groups in this chapter. Architects include Maxwell Ayrton (Oxfordshire),
Horace Field (Mayford, Woking), Baillie Scott (Gidea Park), C. R. Ashbee
(Catbrook, Campden), Rawlence and Squarey (Iwerne Minster Village), Sir
Edwin Lutyens (Ashby St Ledgers, and Preston, Hertfordshire), Hennell &
James (Swanpool, Lincoln), Clough Williams-Ellis (Cushencan Village, Co.
Antrim), Paxton Watson (Merstham).
This chapter deals with houses in larger groupings. Hampstead Garden Suburb
is dealt with at length with several illustrations: Co-Partnership Square,
Lucas Crescent (named after its architect Geoffry Lucas), Asmun's Place
(Raymond Unwin, Barry Parker), The North Square (Sir Edwin Lutyens). Also,
cottage at Wolverhampton (Basil Stallybrass), the New Eltham Estate of Clare
College (G. L. Pepler), Ruislip Manor Estate of King's College (Windmill
Way, Manor Way), Earswick Village, Yorkshire (Joseph Rowntree Village Trust,
Unwin & Parker - several pictures including an aerial photograph), East
Grinstead Co-partnership Society (several pictures)
This chapter discusses the town of East Riggs built around Gretna Village
(Raymond Unwin, C. M. Crickner) with several illustrations. Also Dormanstown
(Adshead, Ramsey & Abercrombie), Stanmore, Winchester (Stuart Crescent,
Princess place, Paulet Place, King's Avenue, Milner Place, and others are
pictured), Durlocks Housing Scheme, Folkstone.
See below for this chapter.
This brief chapter covers Becontree, near Barking (Mayesbrook Road, Angle
Green/Burnside Road), the Bellingham Estate, Lewisham (aerial view artists
impression), Roehampton (The Pleasance, Swinburne Road, Huntingfield Road).
There are a dozen photographs from the Hammersmith Borough Council Scheme
including Peony Gardens and Viola Square (both by Hare & Lisle), Square
in Clematis Street, Orchid Street, Norbroke Street, Foxglove Street (all
by Matthew L. Dawson), Yew Tree Square, Clematis Street (Streatfeild and
Atwell), Tamarisk Square, Pansy Gardens, Hemlock Road (Ernest J, Franck).
This urban scheme is illustrated with five pictures including Chester Street, Courtney Street, New Square, Upper Kennington Lane.
Chapter XVII - Welwyn Garden City
This chapter is only 14 pages long. There are 20 illustrations of which 9 are photographs of housing in Welwyn Garden City, the rest being floor plans.
Lawrence says, "When the Nation and the Government have the wit to see that the problem of London can only be decently and intelligently solved by the creation of a ring of satellite towns, the model for their creation will inevitably be found at Welwyn Garden City."
He praises the work of Louis de Soissons, the town architect, and discusses
the plans for pairs of houses in Handside Close, one of each pair with parlour,
one without. He also mentions other architects Hennell & James, and Landser
& Kemp.
(click on the images for a better view)
Handside Close (Louis de Soissons)
Unnamed
street (L. de Soissons, H. G. Cherry)
Block of 4 houses (Hennell & James)
Group of 4 in a quadrangle (Hennell & James)
Gabled cottages in Handside Lane (Lander & Kemp)
Hipped roof pair in Handside Lane (Lander & Kemp)