Irtside, Holmrook, Cumbria - Castle Summerson Wright

 

FEATURED PROPERTY

Irtside, Holmrook, Cumbria

 

Irtside is a beguiling essay in Colonial architecture sited high on a natural eminence above the River Irt, originally designed into the landscape to best frame one of the most picturesque mountain views in the Lakes, a literal embodiment of the mid-Victorian romantic ideal.

Irtside Colonial Villa

Architect-designed in the 1860’s for Colonel John Issac Mawson following artillery service in India, Irtside borrowed the language of the prevailing Colonial vernacular whilst being thoroughly modern, its individuality of design anticipating the Domestic Revival style of Richard Norman Shaw.

Irtside Colonial Villa

Of ‘white’ brick construction under decorative slate roof, Irtside is an elegant repose of ‘Colonial England’, an interplay of gables and bays over three levels in courtyard arrangement. Mid-Victorian bargeboarding and latticework blends with the then progressive horizontal window lines. Grand set pieces of the well-preserved Victorian interior include a high-vaulted entrance hall and an elegant drawing room with pitchpine ceiling, consoles and dado panelling. Created at the threshold of a less heavyweight Victorian aesthetic, a bold and simply incised chimneypiece in the drawing room and carved relief to the light wood staircase point to the emerging Arts-and-Craft informality of Shaw and Ruskin.

The original grouping of domestic rooms into quarter wings allows for private suiting in addition to the master, and a sensitive two level extension to the north wing in 1964 has provided further guest and office/bedroom suites integrated to the whole.

The former lower service level has been carefully amended and restored, with a galleried dining room rising through two levels, recessed to the former butler’s pantry, and adjoining a new handcrafted oak kitchen which retains the original Aga range. Victorian geometric and encaustic floor tiling throughout the service level has been restored to its original detail.

As a continuous site of modern improvements during the twentieth century, interior furbishment ranges in period style, with original schemes retained where of aesthetic merit, alongside accommodation of new amenities, including appliance, media and solar power technolgies. Sources of reference for further restorative works include samples of the original Victorian weathervanes, tiling and house brick.

The design of window lines provide viewpoints of the ‘picture landscape’ from all rooms to front elevation, retaining the principles of Picturesque composition as originally applied, with the River Irt as foreground, the islanded Church of St Paul to middleground and the ranges of Scafell Pike, Whin Rigg and Wasdale to background.

Irtside’s setting is complemented by fine landscape gardens surrounding the property, with sweeping terraced lawns and Bluebell Walk to the front, intimate garden enclosures to the rear contained by high hedge lines, and from the balustraded terrace, Woodland Walk leading to a natural meadow ghyll and stream, Black Beck. The gardens have been revived and renewed, conserving much of its Victorian planting, including specimen rhododendron and azalea.

Secluded to the village by it’s rooftop location, Holmrook provides local convenience, bar and restaurant amenities, and independent schooling at nearby Harecroft Hall.

Irtside is approached from the village via a pillared entrance drive, rising via a tree-lined sweep to the house and ballustrated parking terrace.

Please contact Shaun Castle on 01697 742833.

 
 

© 2009–2010. Castle Summerson Wright is a trading style of Castle and Summerson-Wright Limited. Registered in England & Wales N°. 6837459 Registered Office: St. Martin's Hall, Front Street, Brampton, Cumbria CA8 1NT

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