36 And 38, Reed Pond Walk

Nos 36 and 38 Reed Pond Walk, Gidea Park

A pair of cottages linked by a narrow single-storey storage area, forming a picturesque composition. Built in 1910–1911 by the notable Arts and Crafts architect M. H. Baillie Scott, they are of one and a half storeys with the upper floor within the roof space. The buildings are clad in roughcast rendered brick with clay plain tile roofs. No 36 is painted pinkish yellow and No 38 in cream.

EXTERIOR

Both cottages have asymmetrical façades. The principal north façade of No 36 features an offset projecting staircase tower with two casement windows, a low swept roof with ridge stack to the left beneath which are two single-light casement windows, and a small door to the fuel store. To the right of the tower is the entrance, a ground floor two-light casement window, and a large projecting chimney stack (the render to which has been removed). Pargetting above the entrance and adjacent window depicts hops or grapes. A tiled sundial by Baillie Scott (listed Grade II) stands in front of the house, along with some original paving.

At the rear (south), the roof slopes low over a verandah with modern doors, a five-light casement window, canted-bay window, and two-light casement to the right. The two dormer windows have new casements. The bay window and flat-topped dormers are capped with clay tiles. A modern lean-to structure has been added to the west, and the lean-to storage area to the east has a brick floor.

The main north façade of No 38 follows a similar arrangement, but features a two-storey projecting gable in place of the staircase tower, pargetting, and external chimney stack.

INTERIOR

No 36 follows the typical plan form of Baillie Scott houses, with generic elements combined to fit a smaller dwelling. The living range, comprising the living and dining rooms, runs along the south front, overlooking the garden through the verandah (although the access door has been blocked up), the five-light casement window with built-in seat, and the canted bay window to the dining area. Service spaces are predominantly to the north, including the entrance hall, staircase, pantry, fuel store, WC, and scullery. The kitchen is to the south and continuous with the scullery. Ground floor internal walls are painted brick. Doors are of thick elm planks with bespoke ironmongery.

The entrance hall has a stone flag floor. The wooden staircase features turned balusters and moulded newel finials. The living and dining rooms have elm floors and oak ceiling beams, with panelled folding doors between them. The living room contains an inglenook fireplace with a built-in elm settle, shelves, and an oak bressumer with mantle. The decorative cast-iron fire grate has been removed. The dining room has a fireplace with wooden mantle, tiled opening, and a small serving hatch to the kitchen. The kitchen has oak ceiling beams, a clay tile floor, and built-in dresser and table which appear to be original. There is an opening for a range or boiler with a mantle above. The ceramic sink in the scullery may also be original. The entrance from the hall to the kitchen/scullery appears to have been relocated, with fitted cupboards inserted in front of the original entrance.

The first floor, within the attic space, comprises three bedrooms, a bathroom, and linen cupboard, with elm floors, plank doors, and several fitted cupboards. Originally there were four bedrooms and a separate WC, but the two west end bedrooms have been merged, as have the bathroom and WC. Plans suggest that fireplaces in the central and east bedrooms have been blocked in. The fire surround to the west bedroom has been replaced, though the decorative grate remains. Most window casements appear to have been replaced, with some original ironmongery reattached.

No 38 was a more expensive Class I dwelling and consequently had a parlour to the north on the ground floor and a fifth bedroom. The interior was not inspected, but plans show a similar arrangement with additional rooms within the projecting gable.

HISTORY

These houses were built as part of the 1911 'House and Cottage Exhibition' at Gidea Park, a showpiece garden suburb, among 159 houses and cottages displayed in that competition. No 38 was built as a Class I type at a cost of £500, and No 36 as a Class II type at £375. The builders were W. H. Maxey and Son.

No 36 and No 38 exemplify Baillie Scott's design approach for smaller dwellings. His best-known work is Blackwell, Windermere (Grade I). The interiors originally contained wall hangings and other fabrics specially made by the Deutsche Werkstatten, an alliance of German artists and craftsmen. Baillie Scott had commissions from the Werkstatten at this time, and these pieces may well have been executed to his own design. The majority of furniture was selected from cottage furniture designed by Heals, with the remainder designed by Baillie Scott. The cottages were published in the Gidea Park exhibition catalogue and contemporary periodicals.

A number of the 1911 properties at Gidea Park are listed Grade II. Thirty-five additional dwellings were built at Gidea Park for the 1934 'Modern Homes Exhibition', with designs by eminent figures including Barry Parker, Raymond Unwin, and W. Curtis Green.