Greenaway Lane, Matlock, Derbyshire

With sweeping views across the Derwent Valley, this exquisitely crafted, mid-century house was designed by John Humpton in 1967. Its interiors have been designed with the principles of space and light in mind, making deft use of a palette of robust yet warm natural materials. Floor-to-ceiling glazing affords panoramas across the Victorian spa town of Matlock and towards Darley Dale and the gateway to the Peak District National Park.

The Tour

The house's front façade is a carefully considered hybrid of archetypal local stonework and the prominent white weatherboarding evocative of 1960s architecture. The designs by John Humpston share similar inspirations to those of his contemporary, Peter Aldington, exhibiting a characteristic array of carefully preserved mid-century materials, including quarry tiles, white-washed brickwork and pine cladding.

Internally, great emphasis is placed on visual connections with the striking local landscape. Panels of full-height glazing immerse the interiors in breathtaking views out across the rolling countryside. Pitched ceilings and a mezzanine floor work harmoniously to create an interplay of spaces which, together with the picture windows, offer a dramatic sense of volume in the communal areas of the house.

The house is set over three levels and is entered from the street level. A beautiful wooden spiral staircase set into a circular brickwork stairwell leads to the living spaces on the first floor. An open-plan living and dining room occupies the majority of this level. Heather brown Welsh quarry tiles run across these areas and around a beautiful brick fireplace and a wood burner.

A dining niche is set back within a circular brick recess, which mirrors the stairwell on the opposite side of the house. The kitchen is accessed through the living room. Extended some years after the house was finished, it has a glazed door that provides side access to the garden. Completing the floor are a generous utility room, office space, a WC and a boot room, which also provides secondary access at the front of the house.

Four bedrooms are arranged across the first floor on either side of the roof’s pitch. There is also a family bathroom with cork tiles and pine-boarded walls and ceilings. The main bedroom's en suite is a retreatful space at the far end of the plan.

On the lower-ground floor, a garage and a driveway with space for two cars.

Outdoor Space

The garden rises up along a winding path behind the house, affording beautiful views across the valley from the top. Mature plants and shrubs artfully arranged between the boulders of millstone grit bring year-round colour. There are several spots to sit and rest, wrapped in greenery, and an enticing terrace for al fresco drinks and dining in warmer months.

The Area

Commonly known as ‘Little Switzerland’, the Victorian spa town of Matlock is situated at the south-eastern edge of the Peak District National Park, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty famed for its walking, cycling and wildlife watching.

Long-admired by visitors - including John Ruskin and Lord Byron - for its charm and hospitable welcome, the town’s pastel-painted parades are lined with an array of local shops and services, including a butchers, a market fish van, several enticing delis, and a plethora of exceptionally-rated restaurants in the town and surrounding areas. The Peacock at Rowsley Pub has exceptional fine dining, as does The Stones Restaurant with its Mediterranean-inspired fare.

Within walking or driving distance of the forests and springs of Ladygrove hiking district, and Farley Moor, there is every opportunity for exploring the great outdoors

Nearby are several good primary schools, with St Giles C of E in particular earning an “Outstanding” Ofsted rating. The local high school, Highfields School is also well-regarded.

Trains run hourly to Derby in 34 minutes, from which London St Pancras can be reached in an hour and a half.

Council Tax Band: F