A handsome mid-century house designed by a Hepworth in Glastonbury
Jack was born in 1911 and raised in Yorkshire. A budding artist, he spent his early adolescence training in medical science before he revealed he’d prefer to pursue painting. Turning 18 in 1929, Jack attended St Martin’s School of Art in London, where he began to develop his own abstract style greatly inspired by his older cousin, Barbara’s, organic forms. Completing his studies in 1923, Jack became the protegee of Ben Nicholson, Barbara’s soon-to-be second husband (her first being fellow sculptor John Skeaping). Taking his mother’s maiden name, he worked under Arthur Jackson until World War II, which is when he put painting on pause until after his retirement.
Shortly before the war, however, he’d realised that architecture “offered a better chance of being able to earn a living” and “seemed a logical progression from my painting”. After studying under Leslie Martin, Jack joined RIBA in 1947 and went on to design a number of beautiful buildings. We promise we’re not biased, but this house, which is part of a small cluster he designed in Glastonbury in 1958, is particularly handsome – especially on the sun-filled day of our visit when the white-painted, rectangular façade and surrounding lush greenery are postcard-pretty.
Inside, the living spaces, which span 1500sq ft, are bright and airy. The original mosaic parquet flooring, in the most beautiful shades of brown, has been expertly retained. It runs underfoot throughout much of the downstairs, including in one of our favourite rooms: the study, a lovely space for reading and writing. Other mid-century delights include the wooden skirting boards and doors and the gorgeous open-tread staircase. A large amount of glazing means residents can enjoy verdant views of the landscape beyond and the house’s own outdoor space. Here there’s a pair of terraces perfect for alfresco dining and lush lawns framed with beds of perennial flowers.
If you consider yourself a lover of the countryside, this might be the perfect place for you. There are plenty of inspiring landscapes to explore here, from the Somerset Levels to Glastonbury Tor, all of which are only a short walk away.
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