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Cottages: Their Planning, Design and Materials

Author: Sir Lawrence Weaver

First published: 1926 by Country Life (First printing of 3rd edition renamed).

Format: Hardback 9" by 5½" with 402 pages

This is the first printing of the third edition of a book which was originally called Country Life - Book of Cottages published in 1913. Lawrence Weaver, (1876-1930), was an architect who became architectural editor for the magazine Country Life.

The book describes the design and construction of houses from two up to eight bedrooms. There are 483 illustrations, more than half of which are black and white photographs of the houses described in the text, the remainder being floor plans. The photographs are reasonably-well reproduced in my copy.

The chapter headings are:

• Introductory
• The Pre-War Search for the Cheap Cottage

  Illustrated by cottages designed by Percy Houfton (at Letchworth), St Loe Strachey (at Merrow Down), Arnold Mitchell (Merrow), Clough Williams-Ellis (Merrow Common), and W. Alex. Harvey & Graham Wicks (near Grantham).
  

• Accommodation and Planning of the Workman's House

  Includes a discussion of the "parlour question" which concerns whether or not cottages should have a parlour, or extra living room on the ground floor, in addition to the living room and scullery. Also bungalows are discussed with illustrations of those by Raymond Unwin (at Hollesley Bay) and Maberly Smith (Henley-on-Thames).
  

• Choice and Right Use of Materials

  Materials discussed include Cob and Pisé, Clay lump, Welsh slates, Other slates, Pantiles, Weather-boarding, Timber, Concrete, Stone. There are several illustrations of a Pisé bungalow at Newlands Corner, Guildford, designed by Clough Williams-Ellis. Lawrence does not actually say what Pisé is except that it is a wetter mix than Cob. There are several illustrations of Ministry of Agriculture cottages at Amesbury. Other illustrations in this chapter are at Kenninghall, Keediston, Bolnhurst (Llanfairfechan), Charwood Forest, Goathland, Wonersh, Beaumont (Essex), Yalding, Buckhurst, Wardie Estate (Edinburgh), Meanwood (Leeds), Gullane, Gyde (almshouses).
  

• Novel Methods of Constructing "Subsidy Cottages" 1925

  This chapter describes houses built in the Palace of Housing and Transport at the British Empire Exhibition of 1925 (Wembley). Several of the houses built under the Wembley roof are illustrated by architects Stanley Hamp (for the Tibbenham Construction Company), Henry Boot & Sons, and others. The houses use novel materials and methods of construction. There are more illustrations of houses at other sites, including "Easiform" cottages for Cumberland and Westmorland Mental Hospital, "Corolite" houses in Holland, Dorman Long steel-frames houses, and brick houses at Ashtead, Surrey.
  

• Five-Roomed Cottages

  Illustrations of cottages at Bardsey, Bramham Park, Newport (Essex), Debden, Elmdon, Newburn-on-Tyne, Bournville, Campsea Ashe, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Knebworth, Painswick, Chobham, Adderbury.
  

• Pairs of Six-Roomed Cottages

  Included in this chapter are houses built in Mitcham designed by Ewart Culpin and R. S. Bowers as part of a housing scheme by The News of the World.
  

• The Six-Roomed Single Cottage

  Illustrations of cottages by architects A. H. Clough, Clough Williams-Ellis (Foxcombe Hill, Oxford and Burton Court, Herefordshire), C. M. Crickmer (Gidea Park, Romford), H. A. Welch, Lionel Crane, Arthur H. Moore, Harold Falkner, Norman Evill (Chepstow).
  

• The Ministry of Agriculture's Smallholding Cottages

  This chapter describes the Ministry of Agriculture's scheme at Sutton Bridge Settlement, Lincolnshire (several illustrations). Other small-holder's cottages are at Holbeach (Lincolnshire), Rolleston (Nottinghamshire), Staffordshire (J. M. Hotchkiss), Ringmer, East Sussex (Mathew, Ridley & Pearce), Alkham (Kent), Great Bentley, Essex (John Stuart)
  

• The Eight-Roomed Cottage

  Architects illustrated include Geoffry Lucas, R. T. Longden (at Gidea Park), Curtis Green, C. Quaife May, Herbert A. Welch (Gidea Park), H. L. North (at Whylome, Talfer and Gorsefield, Llanfairfechan), Ernest Gimson (Charwood Forest), E. Turner Powell (Essex), P. Morley Horder (Bromborough, Cheshire, and Stroud), Halsey Ricardo (Dorset), Leonard Martin (Berkshire).
  

• Designs for an Eight-Roomed Holiday Cottage with Garage and Large Garden

  This chapter concerns the 1912 Country Life competition. Artists impressions and plans of the first three prize-winners are illustrated (C. F. W. Dening, Cyril Farey, Geoffry Lucas & Arthur Hodge).
  

• Cottages for Estate Servants and Gate Lodges

  Architects are Forsyth & Maule (at Bourne End, and Boxmoor), Sir Robert Lorimer (Hill of Tarvit, Balcarres, and Pitkerro), Ascough Chapman, H. S. Goodhart-Rendel, Sir Edwin Lutyens (Gullane, and Barton St Mary, East Grinstead), Eric Francis, W. J. Parker (Fernhill Park, Berkshire), Edward Warren (Witley Park), Walter Brierly (Bishopthorpe), Alan Royds (Dore Moor House, Derbyshire), Frank Verity (Elmstead Glad, Chislehurst), Ernest George (Lodge, Moor Place, Esher), Dan Gibson (Hole Herd, Windermere).
  

• Repair and Alteration

  There are some before-and-after pictures of buildings which have been restored or converted. Four cottages into two at Campden, Gloucestershire. Cottage at Glasfryn before and after renewal (Clough Williams-Ellis). Converted Oast House at Godington, Kent. Others at Drinkstone (Suffolk), Ipsden (Oxfordshire), Botley (Hampshire), Bledlow Ridge (Buckinghamshire).
  

• The Grouping of Cottages

  There are some attractive pictures of cottages joined together in small groups in this chapter. Architects include Maxwell Ayrton (Oxfordshire), Horace Field (Mayford, Woking), Baillie Scott (Gidea Park), C. R. Ashbee (Catbrook, Campden), Rawlence and Squarey (Iwerne Minster Village), Sir Edwin Lutyens (Ashby St Ledgers, and Preston, Hertfordshire), Hennell & James (Swanpool, Lincoln), Clough Williams-Ellis (Cushencan Village, Co. Antrim), Paxton Watson (Merstham).
  

• Village and Suburb Planning: Pre-War Examples

  This chapter deals with houses in larger groupings. Hampstead Garden Suburb is dealt with at length with several illustrations: Co-Partnership Square, Lucas Crescent (named after its architect Geoffry Lucas), Asmun's Place (Raymond Unwin, Barry Parker), The North Square (Sir Edwin Lutyens). Also, cottage at Wolverhampton (Basil Stallybrass), the New Eltham Estate of Clare College (G. L. Pepler), Ruislip Manor Estate of King's College (Windmill Way, Manor Way), Earswick Village, Yorkshire (Joseph Rowntree Village Trust, Unwin & Parker - several pictures including an aerial photograph), East Grinstead Co-partnership Society (several pictures)
  

• Village and Suburb Schemes: War and Post-War

  This chapter discusses the town of East Riggs built around Gretna Village (Raymond Unwin, C. M. Crickner) with several illustrations. Also Dormanstown (Adshead, Ramsey & Abercrombie), Stanmore, Winchester (Stuart Crescent, Princess place, Paulet Place, King's Avenue, Milner Place, and others are pictured), Durlocks Housing Scheme, Folkstone.
  

• Welwyn Garden City

  See below for this chapter.
  

• Post-War Housing by the L.C.C.

  This brief chapter covers Becontree, near Barking (Mayesbrook Road, Angle Green/Burnside Road), the Bellingham Estate, Lewisham (aerial view artists impression), Roehampton (The Pleasance, Swinburne Road, Huntingfield Road).
  

• Housing at Hammersmith

  There are a dozen photographs from the Hammersmith Borough Council Scheme including Peony Gardens and Viola Square (both by Hare & Lisle), Square in Clematis Street, Orchid Street, Norbroke Street, Foxglove Street (all by Matthew L. Dawson), Yew Tree Square, Clematis Street (Streatfeild and Atwell), Tamarisk Square, Pansy Gardens, Hemlock Road (Ernest J, Franck).
  

• Duchy of Cornwall Housing at Kennington

  This urban scheme is illustrated with five pictures including Chester Street, Courtney Street, New Square, Upper Kennington Lane.

Chapter XVII - Welwyn Garden City

This chapter is only 14 pages long. There are 20 illustrations of which 9 are photographs of housing in Welwyn Garden City, the rest being floor plans.

Lawrence says, "When the Nation and the Government have the wit to see that the problem of London can only be decently and intelligently solved by the creation of a ring of satellite towns, the model for their creation will inevitably be found at Welwyn Garden City."

He praises the work of Louis de Soissons, the town architect, and discusses the plans for pairs of houses in Handside Close, one of each pair with parlour, one without. He also mentions other architects Hennell & James, and Landser & Kemp.

		Handside Close Louis de Soissons (click image to enlarge)
		Street effect Louis de Soissons, H. G. Cherry (click image to enlarge)
		Pair of cottages with square projecting bays Louis de Soissons (click image to enlarge)
		Pair of cottages with Mansard roof Louis de Soissons (click image to enlarge)
		Block of four Hennell & James (click image to enlarge)
		A group of four in a quadrangle Hennell & James (click image to enlarge)
		Gabled cottages in Handside Lane Lander & Kemp (click image to enlarge)
		Hipped roof pair in Handside Lane Lander & Kemp (click image to enlarge)
		Concrete cottages Louis de Soissons (click image to enlarge)