Rare mid-century house for sale with echoes of Farnley Hey

Huddersfield is a mecca for architects and architecture students. They come to pay homage to Farnley Hey, one of Britain’s most famous modernist houses, which won a RIBA medal and caused a nationwide sensation when it was built in 1954.A complete contrast to the neighbouring farms and cottages, it was designed by Peter Womersley as a wedding present for his brother and was influenced by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier. Thanks to a Grade II listing and two careful owners it retains its original character. Read more on Farnley Hey:> hereWhile Farnley Hey in Farnley Tyas gets the attention it deserves, there are other mid-century architectural gems in Huddersfield that are quietly hidden from view. They were built in an era when the town was said to have more Rolls Royce owners per head of population than anywhere else in Britain. Money was no object when it came to flash cars or the best modern homes.

Top House is one of those properties. Built in 1962 at Jumble Wood, Fenay Bridge, it is now on the market for £480,000 with The Modern House, www.themodernhouse.com, and is attracting attention from those with an interest in design.This much-loved home is also thought to have been designed by the late Peter Womersley and it certainly bears all his hallmarks, including the use of strong geometric forms, wood cladding and large areas of glazing.

The upper floor living space

Owner Jude Navarro bought the three-bedroom property 13 years ago after falling in love with the look and the idyllic setting. It is tucked away in a wooded hamlet, which has three similar properties.“I lived in a big Victorian terraced house and was looking for something different. I looked for two years before I found this.“When I first viewed it I spent 40 minutes outside looking at the house and garden. I couldn’t believe it was on such a big plot.“I knew immediately that it was the place for me even before I set foot inside. I loved everything about it.”She noticed the similarities with Farnley Hey, which is just a mile away, and has tried to find proof that Peter Womersley was the architect.“I was told that he was and it seems likely. If not the design must have been inspired by his work.”

Jude’s first task after buying the property was a sensitive modernisation. The decor was 1970s, the central heating was in desperate need of upgrading ands the roof needed attention, all of which she tackled while taking care to preserve the best original features.Furnishing it was easy as she has a keen interest in design and already had a number of classic pieces, including an Eames chair and ottoman, along with a collection of vintage Habitat and a smattering of Scandinavian homeware.“It’s not a shrine to the 1960s. The house is decorated with things I like and that happen to suit it,” she says.In 2008, she added a single storey, ground floor extension topped with a large roof terrace.

The roof terrace

The local authority planning department readily agreed to it as Top House isn’t overlooked and, unlike Farnley Hey, it is not a listed building.“The extension is in keeping with the original house and it was a big project because it is on a slope and needed underpinning.“I used Robert Berry’s builders from Holmfirth and they did a great job.“It gave me an extra sitting room downstairs with underfloor heating and the roof terrace, which is south-facing. There’s also room for more development either upwards, backwards and to the side,” says Jude.

The 1960s greenhouse

A keen gardener, she was delighted that a geodesic greenhouse came with the house. Newly fashionable, they now cost about £15,000. Hers dates back to the 1960s and is still going strong.She has planted to suit the surroundings using ferns, bamboo and maples.“I have loved living in woodland, though there is a lot of light because the house is in an enormous clearing. It means the property is hidden from the road and feels secluded. The garden has lots of birds and wildlife and it is magical, especially in winter when the trees are frosted,” says Jude, who is selling to move to a smaller home with land for horses.“Living here has been an absolute pleasure and I will be devastated when I leave but my circumstances are now different and I need more land.”The Modern House agency says: “Top House offers a unique opportunity to acquire a wonderfully characterful example of mid-century architecture.”

Spread across two floors, the home has 1,260 sq. ft of space with room to extend further. The structure echoes the archetypal qualities of the American Case Study houses built between 1948 and 1966 with strong geometric forms of brick, glass and timber, topped with a flat, cantilevered roof.The entrance to the property is beneath the cantilevered roof and leads directly through to a living space. Floor-to-ceiling glazed doors allow natural light through while framing a view of the garden. Stairs lead to a semi-open plan kitchen/dining space and a large living space.Sliding glass doors lead out from the living room to the new roof terrace,Timber-framed glazing stretches the width of the opposite living room wall and gives access to the rear patio and tiered garden.The three bedrooms and a family bathroom are also on the first floor. The property has a double garage and sits in a third of an acre of grounds.Fenay Bridge has easy access to the M1 and is close to Honley, Holfirth and Kirkburton.