The White Cottage (Originally The Log Hut)

The White Cottage, originally called The Log Hut, is a cottage designed in 1919 by the Scottish architect and designer George Walton. It stands at Spade Oak Reach near Bourne End on the River Thames in Cookham, and has been subject to a 21st century kitchen extension.

The building is constructed of rendered brick walls beneath a deeply hipped tile roof with sprocketed eaves. It follows a rectangular plan of two storeys, with the first floor contained within the roof space and lit by dormers. A large modern single storey kitchen extension extends to the west, though this is not considered of special interest. The cottage's ground floor contains a central living room flanked by two small paired rooms, with cabin bedrooms either side of an enclosed spiral staircase to the north-east, and a bathroom and hallway (the former kitchen) to the south-west. A central bedroom above is accessed via the north-east staircase, with a landing and a bathroom (converted from a former tank room) to the south-west.

The exterior is rendered, with a deep hipped tiled roof. The main façade faces north-west towards the garden and River Thames, presenting a broadly symmetrical appearance. Both the north-west and south-east façades feature central folding glazed French doors flanked by paired wooden casements. A single brick chimney stack with tile detailing to the cap stands to the west. A small verandah shelters a glazed door at the junction of the original house and modern kitchen extension. The north-east elevation has paired wooden framed casements at ground floor with a small dormer above. The south-west elevation is largely masked by the modern extension, though its first floor dormer remains visible. The modern flat-roofed kitchen extension has windows echoing those of the original cottage.

Internally, the cottage retains extensive architect-designed features. The living room has a wood block floor, closely spaced cross beams to the ceiling, and an original fireplace with wooden mantle and brick and tile surround. The north-east cabin bedrooms feature architect-designed doors and an enclosed staircase door, all with broad planks, ribbed detailing and brass fittings. A very steep spiral staircase with simple wooden banister (partially removed) connects the levels. Fitted cupboards throughout the cottage feature ribbed detailing matching the doors, along with built-in shelves. The south-west area has been remodelled sympathetically, where a former small kitchen is now a hallway linking the modern kitchen and living area, with a small bathroom beyond. Internal doors and other fitted furniture are original architect designs. Fixtures and fittings remain largely original despite some modernisation undertaken in a sympathetic manner.

The house is raised on a paved terrace with steps down to the lane to the south and providing access to the garden and River Thames to the north, all part of the original design.

George Walton (1867–1933) was a prominent Glaswegian architect and designer who trained at Glasgow School of Art whilst working in a bank, establishing George Walton & Co, Ecclesiastical and House Decorators, in 1888. Initially working primarily as an interior decorator, his firm produced stained glass, metalwork, fireplaces, furniture and wall coverings. He later expanded into architectural practice. His early commissions were highly regarded, including William Rowntree's tea and coffee rooms in Scarborough and his celebrated collaboration with Charles Rennie Mackintosh at Glasgow's Buchanan Street Tearooms in 1896. He is considered a key figure in the Glasgow Style, the distinctive idiom developed by late 19th and early 20th century Glasgow artists, designers and architects.

Walton and his client George Davison met in London in the late 19th century. Davison worked for the Eastman Photographic Company, later Kodak Ltd, and initially commissioned Walton to design a photographic exhibition, having been impressed by Walton's ground-breaking design for The Photographic Salon exhibition at the Dudley Gallery, London in 1896. Davison subsequently commissioned numerous designs from Walton, including the interior of a new headquarters building for the company in Clerkenwell Road, London (1898), and shops in collaboration with architect Edward Spencer at Brompton Road (1900), West Strand (1901) and Regent Street (1898), with further examples in Glasgow, Dublin, Brussels, Milan, Vienna and Moscow. Davison became Walton's major client and patron, commissioning a houseboat (1902–3), several houses with furnishings including The White House, Shiplake (1908, Grade II) and Wern Fawr, Harlech (circa 1908–11), and St David's Hotel, Harlech (completed 1910). Walton was also close friends with J.B.B. Wellington, also in the photographic industry, for whom he designed The Leys, Elstree (1901, Grade II*).

The Log Hut was built at the site of Davison's River Thames mooring point for his houseboat The Log Cabin, situated upstream from his property The White House, Shiplake. Davison had purchased the land in 1917, but by late 1918 decided a small cottage would be a useful addition and engaged Walton to design it. The house was quickly designed and built, exhibiting similarities with both the houseboat and The White House. It subsequently inspired the design of the Lodge at the Leys, built in 1923 and listed Grade II.