A Colour Symphony
Occasional Lutyens #4: Homewood, Knebworth
Lady Emily Bulwer-Lytton proposed to Edwin Lutyens in 1895 at the age of 21. Her mother Edith Villiers the Dowager Countess of Lytton, who had been widowed four years earlier was Queen Victoria's Lady-in-Waiting and had already refused to let another of her children marry from a "lower social order", but somewhat against her wishes Edwin and Emily were married in 1897.
In 1900 Lutyens designed a dower house, initially known as 'Homewards', for his mother in law. Homewood as it is now known is situated in Park Wood, which is on the outskirts of Old Knebworth village and at that time was part of the Knebworth estate. Much of Lutyens Arts and Crafts style is in evidence in his design; in particular the plain tiled roof, which at the rear comes down in some places to first floor level, and the tall chimney stacks.
The entrance elevation has a ground floor of whitewashed brick with small windows and a stone arched doorway whilst the upper floor has three weatherboarded gables, each having one cross window. The side elevations have two gables. The more attractive garden elevation at the rear (shown here) has three sets of mullioned windows surrounded by pilasters and is flanked by single storey wings at the sides, with open loggias facing each other and tiling sweeping up to the main roof line.
The Dowager Countess of Lytton became Lady of the Bedchamber to Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII. She died in 1936 aged 95, having outlived her husband by 45 years, as well as three of her seven children. After the Countess' death the house was rented out for a time, but was sold by the estate in 1953.
Today Homewood is a private house, which offered bed and breakfast accomodation until recent fire regulations made this difficult. It is hoped that arrangements can be made to continue with the business, allowing Lutyens enthusiasts exclusive access to this fine example of his Arts and Crafts style in a country setting.
Occasional Lutyens #4: Homewood, Knebworth
Lady Emily Bulwer-Lytton proposed to Edwin Lutyens in 1895 at the age of 21. Her mother Edith Villiers the Dowager Countess of Lytton, who had been widowed four years earlier was Queen Victoria's Lady-in-Waiting and had already refused to let another of her children marry from a "lower social order", but somewhat against her wishes Edwin and Emily were married in 1897.
In 1900 Lutyens designed a dower house, initially known as 'Homewards', for his mother in law. Homewood as it is now known is situated in Park Wood, which is on the outskirts of Old Knebworth village and at that time was part of the Knebworth estate. Much of Lutyens Arts and Crafts style is in evidence in his design; in particular the plain tiled roof, which at the rear comes down in some places to first floor level, and the tall chimney stacks.
The entrance elevation has a ground floor of whitewashed brick with small windows and a stone arched doorway whilst the upper floor has three weatherboarded gables, each having one cross window. The side elevations have two gables. The more attractive garden elevation at the rear (shown here) has three sets of mullioned windows surrounded by pilasters and is flanked by single storey wings at the sides, with open loggias facing each other and tiling sweeping up to the main roof line.
The Dowager Countess of Lytton became Lady of the Bedchamber to Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII. She died in 1936 aged 95, having outlived her husband by 45 years, as well as three of her seven children. After the Countess' death the house was rented out for a time, but was sold by the estate in 1953.
Today Homewood is a private house, which offered bed and breakfast accomodation until recent fire regulations made this difficult. It is hoped that arrangements can be made to continue with the business, allowing Lutyens enthusiasts exclusive access to this fine example of his Arts and Crafts style in a country setting.