The Pleasaunce, Overstrand by Edwin Lutyens

Built in 1897-9, the Pleasaunce shows the potential, and early influences on the young Lutyens. The entrance here has classical columns surrounding the doorway which is surmounted by the Battersea crest, set against a hipped roof and brickwork detailing. Note the two circular windows and the brick detailing on the step.

Cyril Flower (later Lord Battersea) bought two small villas in 1888, and extended them over the next few years with the help of the young Edwin Lutyens. Architect and client had a stormy relationship, with Lutyens forced to work around the existing villas, and to appease the strong views of his clients. We were told the story of Lady Battersea throwing bricks from the balcony wall outside her bedroom until she considered it the correct height!

Detail of the servants wing off the main entrance.

The influence of Voysey can be seen in the stable yard with its white painted clock tower and circular bakehouse with a conical roof.

The Stable Yard Clock tower, note the band of windows around the roofline.

The line of gables over the servants wing. (ignore the modern porch)

The garden front is a pleasingly eclectic mix of arts & crafts vernacular reminiscent of Webb, with details which show us the genius of the young Lutyens, given the limitations of his site. The main building is of red brick, with tile hanging, and a mixture of hipped roofs and gables giving a complex roofline. The fenestration is very varied including mullions, cross-casements, sashes and oriels in a typically arts & crafts manner. (the extension in the right foreground is modern)

Standen House, Sussex, designed by Philip Webb in 1892-4.

The oak Panelling in the dining room gives us an idea of the once sumptuous interiors filled with Arts & Crafts furniture and Pre-Raphaelite art.

The Group admire the De Morgan tiled fireplace in the lounge.

Surviving stained glass windows off the staircase.

More gorgeous De Morgan tiles in an upstairs bedroom.

Built in storage in the servants wing.

Moorish tiles line the corridor of the original servants wing.

Lutyens was responsible for the hard landscaping in the gardens. Here, as in the stable yard, he was unrestricted by existing buildings and his brilliantly simple creative style can be seen. Look at the beautiful simple form of this brick loggia, set against the wall of the leeward side of the house.

The ends of the covered walkway (below) form into an open octagonal garden house echoing the loggia attached to the corner of the main house itself.

Inside the magnificent covered walkway. The row of heavy buttresses surround circular arches and support a peg tiled roof.

From the end of the walkway brick and stone is woven into circular designs and leads us down to the semi circular steps of the sunken garden, where the geometrically designed paving survives.

The Pleasaunce is not open to the public, although groups are given access on a regular basis. It is operated as a holiday home by the Federation Christian Endeavour Holiday Homes ltd.

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Text and photos by Nicola Robinson