Homes Of Rest

Almshouses, Graffham

Three single-storey brick cottages built in 1928 to designs by Leonard Martin FRIBA, with minor later alterations. The accommodation is arranged beneath an immense hipped tiled roof with a central triangular gablet on the façade and an attic dormer window to the rear. The outer two cottages incorporate cross wings under smaller hipped tiled roofs, which advance to create a paved terrace courtyard in front of the building.

The corners of the building have recessed quoins of red brick. The party walls between the cottages are marked on the ridge line by two massive brick chimneys, each with three stacks set diagonally. These chimneys have moulded cornices and are set on rectangular panelled plinths, also with cornice detail. Beneath the central gablet is a stone doorcase to the middle cottage with lugged surrounds and a timber door. The door has three longitudinal panels and a glazed upper portion with decorative lead glazing bars. Front entrances to the outer cottages are located on the cross wings, overlooking the paved terrace, and have matching timber doors. These doors, the back doors to the cottages, and the windows throughout have red brick quoins and lintels formed of tiles laid flat. The windows are original timber casements with square lead glazing bars, arranged in pairs or fours with timber mullions. Lead rainwater hoppers are decorated with armorial motifs and the monogram 'WW'. The gablet bears a foundation plaque reading: 'Homes of Rest / for / Aged Workers / of / Lavington Park Estate // erected by / Lord Woolavington / Lord of the Manor / 1928'. The stone plaque has a round-headed top and volutes to either side.

The outer two cottages retain L-shaped plans and extensive original features including quarry tiled kitchen floors, quarry tiled hearths in the main living rooms with timber mantelshelves, and joinery such as picture rails, skirting boards, pantry cupboards and panelled doors.

The almshouses were built for Lord Woolavington, who from 1903 lived at nearby Lavington Park, an Elizabethan house in origin with predominantly Georgian and Edwardian character from substantial remodelling by James Lewis and Detmar Blow respectively. Leonard Martin (1869–1935) is best known for his partnership with Henry John Treadwell from 1890. Treadwell and Martin were among the most inspired designers of offices and public houses in London around the turn of the century, their work noted for inventive brilliance developed from Gothic style with originality. Martin was schooled at the South Kensington Architectural School and the Royal Academy Schools, and was articled to John Giles of Craven Street, Strand, where he met Treadwell. After Treadwell's death around 1912–1913, Martin worked independently before forming a partnership with EC Davies in 1929. In his solo period he designed houses in Ilchester Place, Kensington; Burnt Stub, Chessington for Sir Francis Barker; housing schemes at Cobham, Oxshott and Molesey, Surrey; St Paul's Church, Wad Medani, Sudan; and the now-demolished Cathedral of Onitsha, Nigeria.