1960s Fred Taylor modern house in Knottingley, West Yorkshire
I’m not sure it sells itself from the outside, but this 1960s Fred Taylor modern house in Knottingley, West Yorkshire, is something special within.
It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the exterior—far from it. It’s large and angular, with an interesting roof alignment and plenty of glazing—pretty much what you would expect from a bespoke 1960s house. It’s just that the interior really ramps it up a level.
Tucked in a quiet pocket of Knottingley, West Yorkshire (in the Wakefield district), Hill Top (the name due to its location) was constructed in 1964. It is the work of prolific local architect Fred Taylor. Taylor started off designing civic buildings and estates during the post-war boom before devoting his time to one-off homes for individual clients and local developers, like this one.
The architecture is interesting and very much of the era. You immediately scream ‘1960s house’ when you see this. But as I said, little design touches add something extra here. It’s a long house with clean lines, substantial glazing, sweeping roofs, and a hillside location that guarantees far-reaching views, too, not least because of the inverted living plan.
All of this is lovely, but for me, the interior is the crowning glory here. There are some updates here and there, but overall, this is the original interior, which is a big plus and also food for thought.
Of course, I love an interior faithful to the original design. It adds warmth and character and is almost impossible to replicate. But the agent points out that while the interior ‘retains much of its original character’ it also ‘may require some updating internally’. A close inspection and a survey are essential for a house celebrating its 60th birthday.
But let’s look at the positives. There is so much exposed timber inside, open spaces, flowing living space, an original kitchen (and bathroom, too), some exposed stonework and brickwork, a wonderful spiral staircase, original lighting, doors and built-in fittings, and the original wooden floor.
Like all such houses, not everything will be a ‘keeper’. But in the case of this one, I suspect a good amount of it is. This is an interior that has aged very well, and the open layout for the reception space also lends itself well to 21st-century living.
Personally, I would perhaps rethink some of the white double glazing, which looks like a more recent update, but beyond that, there’s nothing here that wouldn’t carry through to a modern-day living space.
Oh yes, there is lots of living space, too, both in the main house and the annexe. Space for extended family is always a good thing.
The primary entrance takes you into a central hall, complete with stone-clad walls and oversized pavers. A blackened metal spiral staircase with open wood treads winds to the first floor. I love a spiral staircase, but I know it’s not universally loved.
Head up it and you’ll access the heart of the house, the reception area, with that original African hardwood flooring, exposed brickwork and flush plywood doors original to the house. Higher ceilings than you might expect too.
As I said, this is an open area zoned off subtly but keeping the flow of space across the floor. This is likely to be retro heaven for many of you, especially with so many details and furnishings from the 1960s still in place.
Opening directly from the hall is the dual-aspect dining space, and adjacent to that is the kitchen with its original yellow and white cabinetry plus black Formica and stainless steel worktops—a huge selling point.
A ‘hefty’ chimney breast separates the lounge from the dining space. A library and play area are just beyond, and a high, sloping ceiling with exposed structural framing runs across the top.
Two double bedrooms and one single bedroom are also on this level, each with elongated windows to boost the natural light. The family bathroom, too, which I mentioned, has the original fittings and character of the 1960s. A WC and a utility room complete the first-floor plan, the latter opening to the upper level of the garden, with access to a large sheltered patio.
Back down to the ground floor and you will find the studio/office. Two workshops – or hobby rooms – also lie behind. A garage has secure parking for two cars and there is ‘copious storage space’ beneath the house. I like the sound of that.
That’s not quite all, as accessed independently at the upper level is a one-bedroom annexe. It’s made up of a kitchen, opening to a ‘roomy’ living and dining space, a double bedroom, and a bathroom. Note that as a condition of the planning approval, this wing may only accommodate family members.
Space outside is substantial, too. The gardens wrap around the house, with grassy areas for playing on (if you have kids) and plenty of well-tended plants and trees. There are also ‘several sheltered nooks’ if you want to take some time out within. There is 0.75 of garden, in case you are wondering.
A lovely place with bags of character and a good amount of potential too, this modern house in Knottingley is just up for sale for £530,000.
Images and details courtesy of The Modern House. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
