In 1928 notable architect James Walter Chapman-Taylor designed this Arts and Crafts-style house for Joseph Snell, a civil servant, and his wife Bessie Snell. Chapman-Taylor and his son Rex Chapman-Taylor built it. Restormel is the second house to be built to James Chapman-Taylor's 'suntrap' plan, which was essentially an open L-shaped design. (The first house being the Burgess House in New Plymouth built in 1913.) The Arts and Crafts movement advocated a return to the handmade crafts of England before the industrial revolution. Chapman-Taylor had acquainted himself with buildings erected in accordance with Arts and Crafts principles on a trip to England in 1909, where he met Charles Voysey, Baillie Scott, Richard Parker and Sir Raymond Unwin, prominent figures in the movement. On returning to New Zealand, Chapman-Taylor adapted the Arts and Crafts 'style' to local conditions. Over the 50 years of his career he retained the principles of the movement, not only designing and building houses, but also making the furniture and fittings to go in them. Restormel is of cavity brick construction, with "Crittall" metal windows and a tile roof. It is basically a single-storey building, but with two attic rooms with dormer windows breaking the roofline. Features in the interior of the house are exposed timber posts and ceiling beams, and an inglenook fireplace. This house is considered to be a fine example of James Chapman-Taylor's designs and the skills of his son Rex Chapman-Taylor, in the Heretaunga-Silverstream area.
Location
List Entry Information
Overview
Detailed List Entry
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 2
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
4149
Date Entered
9th September 1985
Date of Effect
9th September 1985
City/District Council
Upper Hutt City
Region
Wellington Region