“Fairways,” Madeira Road, Littlestone-on-Sea, Kent

In any discussion of the general principles affecting domestic architecture, it has been customary to hear the statement put forward that local conditions and materials rightly determine the form and character of a house. The inference is that it is almost an architectural sin to build otherwise than with local materials. But, in point of fact, this contention has been wholly upset by the development of transport, and by the economic conditions that prevail to-day. To say, for instance, that never should a brick house be allowed to show itself on a stone countryside is merely to put forward a pious assertion, estimable, certainly, as a maxim, but one, nevertheless, that cannot be consistently carried out in present-day circumstances. Moreover, large areas of the country where no single building material is exclusively appropriate. In such areas it is just as right to build in brick as in stone; and if, on a selected site, it is desired to have a house with a reed thatched roof, and no reeds are at hand, there is no particular wickedness in bringing them, say, from Norfolk, for the purpose. This may mean additional cost owing to carriage over a long distance, but it may be considered worthwhile, and, for the rest, one need have no qualms. The two houses now illustrated give point to these remarks. They are entirely different in situation and arrangement, and they serve purposes which are equally different. One is a seaside house on the south coast, intended principally as a holiday home. The other is a house on the Yorkshire hills, intended for all- the - year - round occupation, and subjected to very different climatic conditions. Both houses are built of brick, and each suits its purpose well.  

The Littlestone house is built of local wire-cut bricks, variegated by the use of a good many hard burnt bricks in the walling. The general tone is a cherry red, and the roof tiles are of similar tone. The entrance front of this house is seaward, but, contrary to what one would expect without knowing the precise desires of the client, it is the other side of the house which is really the “front.” This side overlooks the golf links ; indeed, the stretch of lawn belonging to the house is merely divided from the links by a wire fence; and since golf was the ruling passion, it was properly in accord with this that the principal rooms of the house should look westward over the links. There was, too, another reason. With this aspect, full enjoyment is gained of the wonderful sunsets and cloud effects which constitute a considerable part of the charm of those great marshes that lie south of the Downs. The seaward view is dull in comparison, so the east elevation is made quite workaday. It has, however, at one corner, an interesting piece of design, in the front entry, which is excellently detailed. The west elevation, shown by the lower illustration on the preceding page, is symmetrical, comprising a central garden doorway with louvred windows, on either side and above, and three trellis - headed dormers in the roof.

The plan of the house is well schemed. On the ground floor the sitting-room and dining-room can be used as one, or divided off by folding doors, and service with the kitchen is conveniently arranged. On the first floor, to meet the needs of a household that includes several young children, three rooms which ordinarily would be bedrooms are used as day and night nurseries, and there is a bathroom allotted expressly for the children. The grown-ups have one on the other side of the landing, en suite with their own bedroom and dressing-room. The roof space is large, and five other bedrooms are here provided, as well as a servants’ bathroom. The interior treatment is simple. A cream tone has been adopted for the wall colour, and against this pleasing background are set mahogany pieces of the eighteenth century, in company with such modern furniture as comfort demands. [Country Life 3 April 1926 page 531-532].

Reference    Abercrombie: The Book of the Modern House 1939 (page 21 
Reference    Country Life 3 April 1926 page 531-532 The Lesser Country Houses of Today. Two brick houses in Sussex and Yorkshire