The Red House, Church Lane, Nunthorpe, Middlesborough

Reference           Country Life 3 April 1926 page 531-532 The Lesser Country Houses of Today. Two brick houses in Sussex and Yorkshire

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 house in Yorkshire next claims attention. It is situated on the lower level of the Cleveland Hills, and was designed to face north and south, the principal living-rooms and bedrooms having a magnificent view over Rosemary Topping. As will be seen from the plans, the northern side of the house is given up to cloakrooms, bathrooms, dressing-rooms, etc., leaving the sunnier aspect for the living-rooms and bedrooms. The centre of the house is the hall-living-room, on one side of which is the drawing-room, and by means of folding doors these two rooms can be thrown into one for entertaining purposes. The dining room is on the other side of the hall, in a convenient position for service, which is effected through a pantry. The kitchen portion is definitely cut off from the living quarters, and beyorst it is a service yard, with a garage capable of taking two cars, with chauffeur’s rooms over. Next to the garage at one corner is a kennel, and on the other side of the yard is an enclosure for the electric-light plant, which is run by a gas engine. On the first floor five bedrooms are provided, with two bathrooms and two dressing-rooms, and other usual accommodation, and on the attic floor are three more bedrooms, with storerooms, and a bathroom for the servants.