Yet another interesting not so small house from "Small country houses of to-day" is Upmeads, designed by Edgar Wood in 1908.
Like many of the other houses in the book, the house has been lovingly cared for in private hands and remains in nearly the exact condition in which it was built.
Down to the monogram of the original owners who commissioned the house above the front door.
The only change I can see is that a chauffeur's apartment has been sympathetically added on top of the original garage in the forecourt.
The house is shocking for its' base modernity. Can you believe this was built in 1908?
Flat roofed with a boxy plan, it is a hint of what was to come in the future.
Perhaps the house was a bit before its time even as Weaver proclaims in the book "
The house is unusual to the point of oddness".
Even the rear terrace remains intact.
Lets step inside to the original interiors (as far as I can tell). The entryway features beautifully softly groin-vaulted ceilings and herringbone oak floors.
Doors have been installed between the original hall and vestibule in favor of curtains (one of the concessions to the time period).
Weaver makes much of the custom fireplace mantels in the book and they still exist.
I love being able to find these color photos to fill in the blanks left behind by the B&W photos.
The
lincrusta and other wallpaper found throughout the house appear to not be original.
The groin vaulting continues in the 2nd floor hall.
New heating systems have obviously been installed.
More lincrusta upstairs.
Color images and some history found via
Manchester History and interior photography via
Andy Marshall.
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