Some of the notable plasterwork installed at Upper Cobb House. Photo: Richard Bronk
The Victorian Society is delighted that the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and Historic England, has accepted our request to upgrade the listing of Upper Cobb House, a rare marine sub-villa, to Grade II*. Both the Victorian Society and the Georgian Group wrote to Historic England to support an upgrading of the listing. Dr Kate Felus submitted an in-depth document to Historic England in relation to upgrading the listing. The Victorian Society considered the house a strong contender for upgrading given the unique character and interest of the building.
In the early 20th century Upper Cobb House became the home of Arnold Mitchell. Mitchell, was a noted architect of the Arts and Crafts Movement with a particular connection to Lyme Regis where notable examples of his work survive including Sundial (Grade II, 1903) and Library Cottage (Grade II). Mitchell was a gifted architect and was recognised as such by his contemporaries. He was awarded the RIBA Silver Medal in 1886 and elected Fellow in 1894, and was noted as an important architect in the highly influential book Das Englische Haus by Herman Muthesius, 1904.
Upper Cobb House became Mitchell’s home around 1925 or 1926 and is notable for the plasterwork he installed in the principal rooms of the house. These are of unusual richness for what is a fairly modest building, and represent an excellent example of Arts and Crafts plasterwork as informed by the ‘Wrenaissance’ or rediscovery of English 17th century decorative precedents. Mitchell was respectful of the building’s Regency fabric and his additions (including a domed billiard room and summer house) positively contribute to this significance, and this is an interesting example of an Arts and Crafts architect working with a building of this period.
Dr Kate Felus’s study A Delicious Retreat: The Marine Villa and its Setting in England c.1760 to c.1840. A Contextual Study can be read here.
