A Cottage at Harpenden Before 1896. Designed by Harold Ainsworth Peto (1854-1933) and Sir Ernest George (1839-1922). "G.," the author of the multipart article in The Studio about George and Peto, very much admired this cottage:
The delightful little Cottage at Harpenden is merely small in size; it is not small in idea nor in treatment. Nor is it one you could call "quaint" with any show of fitness. The simplicity of its main features, even when reduced to "black and white," and the absence of an inch of ornament, bespeaks the artist. Here are no ridge-tiles, barge-boards, or other architectural trimmings. Solidity and dignity are gained with very simple use of material. It is monumental, because its practical features, evident at a glance, appear sturdy enough to withstand the wear and tear of centuries; but although built after the manner of Elizabethan houses, it does not look a sham antique. The delightful verandah, an integral part of the construction, be it noted, and no afterthought, the simple device which connects a small lean-to of the study with the chimney-shafts, the overhanging bay of the centre gable, which forms in effect a porch — all these features are obviously structural rather than merely picturesque adornments. Only the dovecot is an applied feature, all the others are as essentially part of the house as its foundation or its chimneys.
Formatting and text by George P. Landow. You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the Internet Archive and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]
Bibliography
“The Revival of English Domestic Architecture. IV. The Work of Mr. Ernest George.” The Studio 8 (1896): 30. Internet Archive. Web. 3 April 2012
Last modified 3 April 2012