In the village of Sonning, on the Berkshire side of the River Thames, Hudson found an old orchard bordered on two sides by an ancient brick wall. Lutyens's design incorporated the wall, adjacent to the village street, where two doors in the wall provide the only access to the house.
It was the first Lutyens house I visited, though strictly speaking it was only the Jekyll-designed garden that was open to the public. There have been several subsequent occasions when I have visited a Jekyll garden with at least equal interest in the adjacent Lutyens house!
It was in the early 1960s, and my friend Jonathan and I had walked down from Woodley where we then lived.
Here is an early Country Life photograph of the house and its beautiful brick and tile terrace:-
A very simplified version of the terrace steps appears in my Lego version:-
This view shows the house from the street side, with its courtyard giving access to the wonderful passage, vaulted in brick and chalk blocks:
Few photographs seem to have been published since the original Country Life pictures were shot soon after the house was completed in 1901. Hudson only kept the house for a few years, and subsequent owners appear to have guarded the privacy that the house seems to encourage.
A few years ago I took a series of photographs from the street side, but have not yet scanned them.
The present owner is Jimmy Page, guitarist with Led Zeppelin
Excellent modelling, Michael! Your version is necessarily simplified but is fascinating and visually strong. Thanks.
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