Country Life Autumn / Winter 2016

to the east and the services facing
the hill to the north. It was also
required that the kitchen had a twoway
aspect that included a view
of the forecourt and farm buildings,
so that it was possible to keep an eye
on day-to-day activity from there.
Mr Fenwick, a particular enthusiast
for 17th-century architecture, likes
houses that have evolved and
requested that the finished building
should have work in the character
of the three periods—1600s, 1680s
and 1720s.
The resulting design is simple, satisfying
and successful. The surviving
eastern façade was retained in its
entirety as the new entrance and the
southern front was extended to seven
bays. This was not a random length,
but replicated Mr Rae-Scott’s reconstruction
of the façade of about 1800,
as inferred from its truncated remains.
During the course of clearing the site,
his deduction as to the original extent
of the front was proved to be correct.
Both fronts were refenestrated
with broad-framed sashes, a treatment
characteristic of about 1700.
To the west and north, the symmetry
and regular fenestration of the house
was broken with different levels and
mullion and transom windows (Fig 2).
One room within the entrance
range preserved Jacobean panelling
and this has been repaired and preserved.
It was thought that the
panelling came from the house, but
when it was dismantled, a piece
of paper pasted on the back of one
panel revealed that it incorporates at Fig 5: The
least some pieces ‘From Revelstoke central corridor
when taken down 1868’ (Fig 6). is the main
Internally, the house is designed artery of the
around a small courtyard with a fountain.
This open space suffuses the nects the front
house. It con-
surrounding interiors with light and hall, shown
spreads the calming sound of running here, with the
water through the building. Extending
along one side of the courtyard opposite end
back hall at the
is an arterial corridor that connects of the house
the front and back hall of the house and is lit from
(Fig 5). Opening off this are the dining
room (Fig 3) and library (Fig 4), the central
the side by
the latter with an impressive collection
of books on architecture. the main rooms
courtyard. All
At first-floor level, the courtyard open off this
is enclosed on two sides by corridors thoroughfare
giving access to bedrooms, a gallery
and guest room. Mr Fenwick sees ➢