r 97 i 



ORCHARDS 



WILLIAM CHANCE 



O\ the sanJy soil id tlu- \\e^t Surrey hills, \\here one 

 of their m.my valley-fold* runs tip tn tin- edge ot a 

 half-mile wide, well-w -ooded and sheltered plateau, 

 is this newly- built house. The twentv six acres 

 of land on which it Mauds are fur tin- must p.ut 

 character, with groups of well-grown oaks, and 

 that best of all undergrowth, the native bracken. All this h.is 

 been carefully preserved, so that mi three -ides ttie forest-land 

 te to the house. Nothing lias heen d.we tn alter 

 the character of this ground, and only, the better to enjo\ it. 

 has one broad grassy glade been cleared and levelled \\lnle 

 sonu <>d paths lead into its deeper recesses, h.istward 



pen view towards Dorking and I.eith Hill over a rough 

 .it whose further end the stone tor the house has been 

 quart 



From every point on the land from which it can be seen 

 the house seems to grow out of the ground. That this should 

 be so, .in. 1 that it should in no w.iv jar with the wnodlan.l. 



speaks well for the line t.Me of tic CeMgner and for his 

 infmate knowledge of the best traditions ,,f the country 

 traditions that, though clearly marked, are never obtrusive. 

 Mr. b L. Lutyens. the architect, h.is worked well in.: 



Orchards is not a c<>py nor e\en an adaptation of anv 

 other old west Surrey house, but in its m lin structure, as well 

 as its smaller details, it laitt.lully follous the count v's Iv si 

 traditions. 



I'lie house is ap| ro.uh-.-il by a slunt dn\e lioni a country 

 by-road, which passes under a timbered arcluvay into the 

 courtyard. Immediately in front is the projecting stone (virvh, 

 carrying over it the oak-framed window ot a square bay in 

 the wide passage or gallery above. To the lelt is the wing 

 containing the oic s, to the right the arched cloister leading 

 to the larger studio, a delighttul ambulatory in hot summer 

 days The courtyard gives an impression of ample sp.ue, 

 each of its suK-s measuring about Oilt. 



The south front has onlv one wide terrace between it and 



THE CLOISTERS. 



