Sewell's Orchard I
Tewin, Hertfordshire
Architect: Mary Medd
Register for similar homesDesigned by the renowned architect Mary Medd in 1934, Sewell’s Orchard is a large, detached house surrounded by views over open countryside that sits on a plot of approximately half an acre. It can be found in Tewin, a sought-after village which has a rural setting whilst being within easy commuting distance of London.
Comprising four/five bedrooms and an attractive, southwest-facing garden, the house has been designed with all living space towards the rear, to take full advantage of the views and aspect. The house has been Grade II-listed in recognition of its architectural importance, with English Heritage describing it as an outstanding example of the “International Modern Style… [it is] a design, which would not have appeared out of place 30 years later”. The property has approximately 2,700 sq ft of internal space and is on the market for the first time in over 33 years.
Mary Medd originally designed the house for her parents. Brick-built using local yellow Hertingfordbury bricks and featuring a monopitch roof and bright, airy rooms, the property was inspired by Medd’s visit to the Stockholm Exhibition of 1930, where she admired the simplicity and straightforwardness of Swedish design.
Accommodation includes four/five bedrooms, a living room, a large family room (approx 437 sq ft), dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, and double garage. The attractive garden extends to 130 ft and is mostly laid to lawn with borders of box hedging and mature trees and shrubs. In the centre of the lawn stands an impressive Weeping Ash tree. Sewell’s Orchard is the middle of the three Medd-designed houses – each one staggered so that none of them takes light from the others.
Tewin is a historic Hertfordshire village centered around a large and picturesque green. Links to London are excellent – Welwyn North train station (2 miles away) runs services to London King’s Cross in just 30 minutes, and trains from Welwyn Garden City run direct to Moorgate in 45 minutes. There is also easy access to the A1(M), the M25 and the A10. Local facilities include a village shop, post office, church, pubs, and several reputable schools. Welwyn Garden City is just 2 miles away.
Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.
History
A key figure in public sector architecture, Mary Medd (née Crowley) is most noted for her contribution to Hertfordshire’s progressive school-building programme.
Her career path may have been influenced by her father, Dr Ralph Crowley, who worked at the Board of Education and wrote about school-building. What is certain is that her style of work was shaped by her passion for Scandinavian design, which she said: ‘goes right through architecture to the washing-up bowl’.
In her early career, Medd worked with the prominent Modern Movement architect Ernö Goldfinger. From 1934-6, she was commissioned to design the group of houses at Orchard Road for her extended family. The project is a rare example of her residential work and earned a mention in F.R.S Yorke’s celebrated book ‘The Modern House In England’. Medd’s careful attention to the needs of the occupants attracted interest, and this approach would become the hallmark of her school buildings.
During the 1940s she began working with Bruce Martin and her future husband, David Medd. Their projects, notably St Crispin’s Secondary School in Wokingham, profoundly influenced school planning in post-war Britain, winning them international acclaim. In 1964, Mary and David Medd were jointly awarded an OBE.
Mary Medd 1907-2005.
