The Hoo is an Neoclassical country house in Willingdon, in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. It was designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1902 for Alexander Wedderburn, a wealthy lawyer. Considered one of Lutyens' best houses, it is a Grade I listed building. The gardens, which had input from Gertrude Jekyll, are designated at Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.
| The Hoo | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The Hoo, street frontage | |
| Location | Willingdon and Jevington, East Sussex |
| Coordinates | 50°47′57″N 0°15′12″E / 50.79917°N 0.25333°E |
| OS grid reference | TQ588024 |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Edwin Lutyens |
| Architectural style(s) | Neoclassical |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
| Official name | The Hoo |
| Designated | 10 December 1973 |
| Reference no. | 1184911 |
| Official name | The Hoo |
| Designated | 25 March 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1000236 |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | Garden Walls and 2 Gazebos on South Side of Nos 1 to 11 |
| Designated | 12 August 1981 |
| Reference no. | 1353435 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | The Barn |
| Designated | 12 August 1981 |
| Reference no. | 1184960 |
  Location of The Hoo in East Sussex | |
History and description
editAlexander Wedderburn commissioned Edwin Lutyens to undertake a re-modelling of his existing house at Willingdon on the South Downs in 1901. The result was among Lutyens' favourite works, and is considered among his best country houses.[1] After post-war service as a girls' school, the house was converted to apartments in 1955.[2] The building remains privately owned and was the subject of a sympathetic restoration in 2022.[3]
The core of the current house remains Wedderburn's original cottage. To this, Lutyens added a gable roof with dormer windows, while to each side he constructed large wings. There are examples of the neo-Georgian styling which was to become one of Lutyens' major architectural themes.[4]
The original planting scheme for the gardens, which were designed in a formal style, was undertaken by Gertrude Jekyll. Some modifications have been made since, and some of the outlying parts have succumbed to residential development.[5]
The Hoo is a Grade I listed building[1] and its gardens are listed at Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b Historic England. "The Hoo (Grade I) (1184911)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "Lutyens houses on the market". Lutyens Trust. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "2023 Awards: Large scale residential". Sussex Heritage Trust. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ Page, Richard (Winter 2017). "The Hoo, Willingdon, East Sussex" (PDF). Lutyens Trust. p. 13. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ "The Hoo, Willingdon - Eastbourne". Parks & Gardens UK. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ Historic England. "The Hoo gardens (Grade II*) (1000236)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
External links
edit
Media related to The Hoo, Willingdon at Wikimedia Commons