The current owner approached Vincent Reed Ltd specifically to complete the external and internal timber restoration of the property in May 2009, including the restoration or original panelling, windows, doors and floors. We also designed, constructed and fitted and hand finished replica panelling, doors and windows – including hand made copies of missing iron ware.
The house was designed by the famed architect MH Baillie Scott and built in 1906-07 for a Mr and Mrs Hill. Arthur Hill was a solicitor who was later knighted. Initially designed as a holiday cottage but was enlarged, also by Baillie Scott, in 1913 to provide more accommodation so that the Hills could live in the house permanently.
The house was subsequently owned by Lady Barbara Wykeham who was an architect and painter known professionally as Barbara Priestley. She was the daughter of the writer JB Priestley.
Baillie-Scott designed nearly 300 buildings over the course of his career – and his work influenced the Deutshe Werkbund, the Chicago School and Frank Lloyd Wright. However, his early domestic work, such as this Hampshire property, is widely considered to be of the most significant architectural value.
This property is a stunning vernacular Arts and Crafts house and is of significant architectural importance today.
