Avalon

Details

TQ19NW BUSHEY GRANGE ROAD

463- /6/10007 No.35
Avalon

- II

House. c1907, with additions and alterations in the 1920's and later. For Herbert Washington Broome. Builder J Jaggard of Bushey. Roughcast on brick, with tall roughcast chimney stacks and a plain tiled roof. Late Arts and Crafts style. Irregular L-plan house of 2 storeys, with single storey offshuts, and incorporating workshop and studio facilities. Entrance elevation (east) with asymmetrical roof oversailing a corner entrance porch. The porch is open, and is defined by timber posts with angle braces. It encloses the principal doorway with a wide, vertically boarded door, hung on full width straps, and with decorative door furniture. Elaborate metal bell-pull on right--hand flanking wall. Tall semi-circular headed stair window with plain hood mould to right of porch. Further right, 2 stacked shallow 3-light windows with brick beads and cills. Garden elevation (south) with central gable, incorporating a ground floor canted bay window, with 2 2--light windows above. To the right, the roof slope extends over the porch. To the left, a single storey studio range with lean-to against north wall, and 2-light window and plank door to south wall. North elevation with central gable incorporating advanced gablet to right, and to left, advanced chimney breast with arched recess to centre and single light window inset. INTERIOR: Entrance Hall with wide plank door set in plain oak surround. Painted panel by Myrtle Broome above door head. Pendant light fitting in pierced metal work. Winder stair with plain newels and flat balusters. Living room with exposed joists and cross beams, the crossing points decorated with elaborate carved bosses. Principal hearth beneath canopy, with carved decoration to head beam, support beams and angle braces. Plain surround with carved mantle shelf bearing date '1907', elaborate overmantle of carved timber with diamond and lozenge patterning, fan patterned mosaic work, and painted heraldic shields. Beneath the shields, an inscription which reads 'WHYLE EVERY MAN IS PLESED IN HIS DEGREE, THERE IS BOTH PEASE AND UNETI'. The room is plain panelled, with carved frieze work to the panel heads which forms display shelving. To the left of the hearth is a decorated niche. Window and door openings have decorative pelmet canopies bearing inscriptions, and fitted bookshelves and canted dresser cabinet also form part of this carefully designed interior. Studio with kiln, with decorative tilework, and pelmet canopy to window with painted decoration by Myrtle Broome. Kitchen with contemporary cupboard fittings and plank door. Front bedroom with canopy frame to bed recess, and decorated window pelmet. Front bedroom has hearth overmantle with carved and painted decoration, and decorated pelmet to window. HISTORY: Washington Broome was a contemporary of William Morris and worked with Morris at the Kelmscott Press, before setting up The Old Bourne Press, with James Guthrie. Myrtle Broome was a designer and craft worker, who designed for Liberty's. 'Avalon' was the



home of the Broomes' business- 'Designers and Workers in Metal and Enamel'. Broome designed and carved many of the interior fittings for the house, and it is the remarkably rich and well- preserved interior which distinguishes this building from its contemporaries. It is of special interest as a building created for a designer and craftsman of the Arts and Crafts Movement, containing a rich variety of decorative elements of the period designed by Broome and his daughter.


Listing NGR: TQ1267695966

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

463051

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

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