Help Identifying Period Property

[Dacre]

Hi fellow members,

Please can anyone help identify the approximate build date or provide any relevant period information on the property pictured?

Many thanks,
C

 

[Stevers]

That reminds me of my sister's house in Surrey built in 1906. it has some quite modern features for that era - casement windows, boxy footprint and a low pitch on the roof - all possible for that timeframe though. The terracotta frieze, floor tiles and french windows arguably more typical of the era.

 

[Gothichome]

In Canada and USA we would call that a Tudor revival. It was a common design in the teens for many years. Had a bit of a revival in the late sixties into the late seventies although they were really tacky (in my opinion) all sorts of gaudy faux add ons with none of the restraint.

 

[Stevers]

That enclosed porch at the back might be convenient, but it would have been open originally and so much more stylish!

 

[malcolm]

In the UK it's going to be within a few years either side of WW1. The first Tudor revival over here started maybe 1870ish and was called Arts and Crafts. There was some lovely architecture and stonework had to be stone and woodwork had to be structural. That continued up to WW1. My half timbered house had a new front in 1921. The wood was still structural but the render was cement. Inside they used lime plaster with a gypsum skim coat.

The wood in the gable of this house doesn't look structural. Too widely spaced. Looks more late 1920s or early 1930s to me. Modernist architecture was trending back then with picture windows being introduced. The house is an oddball design so will be a one-off designed by an architect rather than the mainstream 1930s suburban houses. I'm going to guess post war in the 1920s.

Those internal doors might provide a more exact date. Doors were going in and out of fashion like mad at the time and I wouldn't be surprised if a door restorer or dealer could tell you the exact year.

 

[paulc]

I've found looking at historical OS maps can often pinpoint the build date within ten years or so.
The style of construction: Facing brick on the lower half (cavity wall ?) and rough cast render on the upper (solid brick ?) is typical for 1920/30s.

 

[Stevers]

Hipped rather than gabled roofs are more typical of the 1920s and 1930s, and that terracotta frieze looks very turn of the century. My sister's house (1906) has exactly those styles of casement windows, a plain gabled roof, and interestingly, cavity walls. Those they've had filled without apparent ill effect and to huge benefit in comfort. A fairly early example of cavity walls which certainly weren't universal by the 1920s.

 

[Matt Green]

I have one of the first houses built for the council in the area, built between 1921 and 1925, with cavity walls with horsehair and lime plaster. Alas, the lath and plaster ceilings are long gone.

 

[stuart45]

Cavity walls were quite common in some areas in the 1800's.Builders in Portsmouth, and other parts of Hampshire for example started using them for new builds from 1860 on.

 

[Stevers]

The adoption of cavity walls was definitely regional. A friend had a late 1920s house in Coventry and I was surprised when I realised that it had been built with solid walls. Perhaps they were felt to be warmer without that draughty cavity, so there may have been a reluctance to adopt them in the drier cooler climes to the north and east.

 

[stuart45]

It was especially in exposed coastal areas where they first became popular.
In the mid 30's, a Public Health Act, suggested that 9 inch solid clay brick walls should be protected by render, tile hanging etc. A 13 inch wall was still acceptable. It wasn't until the mid 60's that U value targets were introduced.
Even today, a solid masonry wall is still permitted, provided it meets the required U values.
I've built houses in the 70's that had solid walls on the upper floors, built with 6 inch Thermalite blocks, and tile hung.

 

[mardinor]

I'd guess 1910. Some remnants of the outgoing Arts & Crafts style (terracotta frieze, small pane glazing) but a building style seen more in the 1920s so perhaps an early influence.
Very unlikely before 1900 or after 1920 I'd say.

 

[paulc]

I'd guess 1910. Some remnants of the outgoing Arts & Crafts style (terracotta frieze, small pane glazing) but a building style seen more in the 1920s so perhaps an early influence.
Very unlikely before 1900 or after 1920 I'd say.

The property isn't showing on the 1916 map (published 1921), but is on the 1939 map (published 1947). So that puts us somewhere between the two world wars. I'm going to refine my estimate and say 1918-1920.