Wick Hollow House, Glastonbury, Somerset

This expansive five/six-bedroom modernist house lies at the end of a private road in a spectacular and secluded rural position, while being minutes from the centre of Glastonbury Town. There are far-reaching views across the Somerset Levels to Exmoor and direct views of Glastonbury Tor. Inside, versatile accommodation spans some 3,200 sq ft, while outside, south-facing grounds of around two acres give complete privacy and comprise a paddock, wildflower meadow and woodland, along with outbuildings, including an Edwardian summer house.



The Architect



The house was built in 1955, the principal house in an important group constructed for members of the Morlands family by the renowned architect and abstract expressionist painter, Arthur Jackson Hepworth. Arthur was heavily influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright and the house reflects that, being built largely from local Bath stone and employing Frank Lloyd Wright’s principle of 'compression and release' in the entrance hall and living space. Arthur Hepworth was a first cousin of Barbara Hepworth and has work held by the Tate.



The house was featured on the cover of the 1956 Ideal Home Exhibition Programme, in The Architect magazine, and is mentioned in Pevsner’s The Buildings of England series.



The Tour



Wick Hollow sits on a ridge in a secluded position, above and set back from the quiet lane in front, shielded by tall, mature trees. It is at the end of a short, private road behind electric security gates. There is a fully insulated double garage to the side, built in the same style as the house. A large drive and turning area provide parking for several cars.



The front elevation of the house is of geometric, authentic modernist design, unusually constructed to great effect from Bath stone with mullioned windows. Entry, protected by a long porch, is to a small hallway, an embodiment of Lloyd Wright's compression effect before 'release' into the principal living area. The latter has an uninterrupted run of large lateral windows giving a continuous and spectacular view out across the valley and the tree canopy towards the Tor. There is also a cloakroom and a guest WC to the right of the front door.



The living room has carefully restored bookshelves and storage, both to the original architect’s design, and can be divided by using the original net curtain tracks in the ceiling. The heart of the home, the architects’ principles are laid bare here, with the structural pillars offering a useful visual 'break'. One of the large window panes can be slid open to enhance the sense of indoor-outdoor on fine days. There are electric blackout blinds and electric net curtains fitted here.



The whole ground floor has original oak strip flooring, encouraging a social 'flow' enhanced by double sliding doors in rippled sycamore between each of the principal rooms. To the left is a large hand-built kitchen in rippled sycamore with green Peruvian slate worktops. The adjacent dining area has breathtaking views over the principal terrace and across the valley to the Tor.



Beyond an office nook is another set of sliding doors that open to a further reception room currently used as a study, which would equally befit use as a dining room, playroom or snug. It has a wall of handmade bookcases in glazed modernist style with sliding doors. This is a serene space with double-aspect windows looking out over the terraced formal garden.



To the front, there is a large back/prep kitchen/utility room, fully fitted with extensive working surfaces and cupboards, plumbing for a washing machine and dryer, and with a butler sink and plate washer tap. This room is invaluable when entertaining, as it has its own entrance through a useful boot room to the driveway, along with a separate WC.



To the right of the living room is a door through to a short glazed walkway giving access to the separate west end of the house. There are double doors onto a secluded patio. This extension was built by Hepworth in the late 1960s in the precise style of the rest of the house and features lovely sheltered views across the former grass tennis court.



This part of the house can either be integrated into the home or completely separated, as it has its own front door to the drive. The upper floor (at the same level as the ground floor of the main house) has two substantial rooms and a large bathroom. It is currently used as guest accommodation and an office, but could easily be repurposed to accommodate multi-generational living.



A staircase from the walkway leads down to the garden room, where triple doors open out onto a stone patio. This large, bright and elegant space was constructed from hardwood on a base of Blue Lias stone with a black slate floor. A modern, technical wood-burning stove is a warming point on cooler nights, and automatic rain-controlled skylights give ventilation. Two small connected rooms are currently configured as a wet bar and a storage room, which could be used as a wine cellar. There is also access to a significant storage area under the house from the garden room.



Returning to the main house, a period bespoke staircase leads from the living room to the first floor and landing area with windows to the front and a symmetrical door layout. All the bedrooms are accessed from the landing and have views across the garden and Bushy Coombe. They are also all fitted with air conditioning and electric blackout blinds.



The principal bedroom has a mosaic en suite with a Japanese soaking tub. The two smaller bedrooms are currently used as dressing rooms but could easily be reverted, if required. The whole first floor retains beautiful original hardwood flooring.



Outdoor Space



Park-like grounds of around two acres are sensitively divided into formal areas, less formal and wild. Immediately behind the house is a large terrace with elegant hardwood irrigated raised herb beds and a Japanese-style lily pond. To the side and below is a terraced garden created by the current owners to offer a serene, contemplative space with carefully sited seating areas. Its shrub-based planting has been designed to offer year-round interest and ease of maintenance.



Beyond the formal garden is a wildflower meadow surrounded by a well-maintained beech hedge. To the side is a former grass tennis court – a large expanse of lawn ideal for entertaining or playing games.



Beyond the flower gardens, there is a sizeable greenhouse with a potting area, electricity and water connections. Above the tennis lawn, there is the small Edwardian summerhouse and a small shed, both with power, and a three-bay composting system. There are several taps across the site, and there are discreet gated areas away from the main features that are used for storage and maintenance.



At the bottom of the garden, an adjacent paddock is reached through double wrought-iron gates. It has separate vehicular access to a private lane and a shed with electricity on site.



The garden and paddock are studded with trees from the original Morlands family arboretum. There is a collection of mature magnolia (including a grandiflora) and a specimen English pine and a mulberry, amongst numerous mature oak, ash, beech and cherry trees.



The Area



Wick Hollow is a two-minute drive or an eight to 10-minute walk from the centre of Glastonbury. This storied town has a wide range of independent shops, bars and restaurants and all necessary facilities. It is centred around the romantic ruins of Glastonbury Abbey and is around six miles from the famous Glastonbury festival site. Street, a picturesque village with a Grade II-listed art deco lido, is under two miles away. The historic city of Wells is four miles from the house.



Bruton, with Hauser & Wirth Somerset, The Old Pharmacy, Osip and The Newt, is around 30 minutes' drive. Bristol and Bath are around an hour's drive away.



The surrounding area is renowned for its beautiful open countryside. Via quiet public footpaths, Glastonbury Tor can be directly reached in approximately 15 minutes. The Somerset Levels and Moors offer abundant and diverse wildlife, attracting over 60 species of birds, including herons, egrets, hawks and barn owls. There is easy access to the Ham Wall nature reserve, where the murmuration of starlings becomes a spectacular display during winter dusk.



The area has excellent schooling opportunities nearby, including the highly regarded Millfield Prep.



Castle Cary station is approximately 16 miles away and has direct mainline trains to London in as little as 95 minutes. Bristol Airport is 45 minutes away, and the M5 is 15 miles from home.



Council Tax Band: G