Grey Gables, Martinsend Lane, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, HP16 9BH

Building

Roofed and walled permanent structures.

Asset type

Purpose built house, by known architect.

Age

Circa 1913.

Rarity

One of very few proper ‘Arts & Crafts’ houses on Martinsend Lane, a road which is about 1 mile long & predominantly comprises more typical inter-war & post-war suburban housing - albeit still of good quality & large gardens, this stands out as one of the most interesting houses architecturally.

Architectural and Artistic Interest

Well executed design by architect Ernest Willmott, who live locally at Little Kingshill. More significantly, he had previously worked in partnership with Herbert Baker on Colonial buildings in South Africa whilst under the name Ernest Sloper. The much larger adjoining house called Touchwood he also designed, which was for a client & Grey Gables seems to have been developed at around/ slightly after as speculative development. The style of both houses is very similar. An assumption can be made about the architect’s interest in the ‘Arts & Crafts’ Movement by his own home & the fact he employed Gertrude Jekyll to design the garden. The ground - the plot is nearly an acre - sits within the Grimms Hill estate, albeit one of the houses accessed directly off Martinsend Lane. This estate was developed in the early years of the last century by Arthur Lasenby-Liberty, founder of London department store Liberty. He sold off plots, typically around an acre, which had been newly laid out. Grey Gables is set slightly higher than Martinsend Lane & accessed by a drive to the right-hand side. The entrance to the house appears to be on the right-hand side, with the side facing the road, having windows & a verandah facing south. There is a large chimney, the upper part of some decorative style dominating the elevation to the side where the front door is or - at least - was originally positioned. The side facing the road, has 2 bay windows - one to each side - sharing a pitched roof. The verandah sits between these. The house appears to have had much refurbishment/ enlargement work undertaken. The gables are finished with painted render with the upper parts having applied timber stained black, these were originally tile-hung. The whole roof has been relaid, with what appear to be new clay tiles - including the ridge tiles. Traditional brick construction, with accommodation over 2 floors. Wooden windows, painted white. Two adjoining gables facing road, with roofline sloping down to both sides originally - left hand-side now extended - with further gable projecting from side to right incorporating the original location for front door.

Group Value

Adjoins Touchwood, Grimms Hill (see separate listing) & sits within the curtilage of the Grimms Hill estate (see separate listing).

n/a

20 Mar 2023

Find out more about this Asset in Buckinghamshire's Local Heritage List:
https://local-heritage-list.org.uk/buckinghamshire/asset/11368