Respecting the house that Hatchard-Smith built


'Wildflowers' on East Budleigh Road, designed by celebrated Budleigh Salterton architect William Hatchard-Smith. The house will be re-named 'Orchid'

Fairlynch Museum’s current exhibition in the Local History Room about the vanished buildings of Budleigh Salterton and their replacements gives us an idea of how many fine houses in the town have been demolished over the years. 

















The last moments of Clyst Hayes House on Exmouth Road before its demolition in December 2012


The resulting townscape and re-developments, initially praised for their modernity, have increasingly attracted adverse comment from conservationists. The town’s Design Statement makes interesting reading in that respect!


Mr Waddington, left, Manager of Lloyd's Bank, pays tribute to Col Hatchard-Smith, the oldest client of the bank, on his 100th birthday. On the right is Cllr Mrs Eileen Brooke, Chairman of the Budleigh Salterton Town Council, with flowers presented by the Town Council
 
However the Wildflowers project planned by Exeter-based Blue Cedar Homes strikes a more positive note. This exclusive development of five new homes will see the restoration of an historic property designed by the town’s most celebrated resident architect.

 


Above: The memorial window in St Peter's Parish Church, Budleigh Salterton, dedicated to Col Hatchard-Smith and his wife
 
‘Wildflowers’  was the first property to be designed by William Hatchard-Smith in the early 1920s for his brother-in-law and sister, Colonel and Mrs Rowlandson. Inspired by the international Arts and Crafts design movement, Hatchard-Smith went on to design 50 of the most elegant houses in Budleigh Salterton – a style which has distinguished the town from others in East Devon.

Hatchard-Smith houses are much sought after and particularly appreciated for their elegance, comfort and sturdy construction. Some of the finest examples include Watch Hill in Cricketfield Lane and Lavender House on Moorlands Road.

In its latest incarnation the Arts and Crafts property, just off East Budleigh Road, will be renovated by specialist developer Blue Cedar Homes, alongside four new-build properties. The whole development, which is set in beautiful landscaped gardens, will be known as Wildflowers and each of the houses will fittingly be named after wild flowers; Orchid, Poppy, Snowdrop, Foxglove and Primrose. 

 An artist's impression of the proposed development by Blue Cedar Homes, to be known as 'Wildflowers'
 
The project is a break with convention for the Exeter-based Blue Cedar Homes, which usually focuses only on new build homes.  For more information see the company’s website at http://www.bluecedarhomes.co.uk/wildflowers-start.html

To see Budleigh Salterton’s Town Design Statement see
http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/budleighsaltertontowndesignstatement

Fairlynch Museum Chairman Roger Sherriff expressed his gratitude to Blue Cedar Homes for the generous donation of £250 that the company made to the Museum in acknowledgement of photographic material supplied by Fairlynch. 

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