House at Wantage, Berkshire

The site of the house at Wantage, designed by Messrs. Fair & Myer, is some two miles from the town, just within a plantation, in which some of the trees have been cut down to allow of erecting the house; while on the garden front side an opening has been cut so as to get a distant view of the surrounding country. Externally, multicoloured hand-made sand stocks with brushed-out joints form the main body of the walls, and a somewhat brighter-toned brick is used for the quoin ends. The centre portion is plastered and finished a broken white. The window frames are oak and enclose iron casements and leaded lights. Old tiles are used on the roof. Internally, the house has had many of the interesting details of the late seventeenth century introduced; care being taken that no material of a later date than that imported into England at that time should be used. The hall has simple panelled walls in oak, 7 feet high, with somewhat boldly enriched ceiling. The library is finished in elm with permanent bookcases and the general tone of the decoration is an opalescent green. The drawing-room has panelled walls, enriched ceiling and fireplace, all finished white. The dining-room is panelled the full height with English walnut wax polished. The bedrooms and offices are finished in a plain and serviceable manner and depend greatly upon the furnishing for effect. [Studio International October 1910 page 57-59]

Reference    Studio International October 1910 page 57-59 with plan and perspective