DR Wendy Hitchmough, an architectural historian, suggested members of her audience should imagine they were prospective clients of C F A Voysey in 1906, when he was a fashionable Arts and Crafts architect and designer.
She gave a vivid analysis of the likely procedure that would have been followed, using a house of Voysey's design 'The Homestead' at Frinton.
As Hitchmough spoke, it became clear that Voysey was very much an individualist who even designed his own clothes.
He designed for the individual patron, down to the very last item.
In addition to designing the house he carpeted, curtained, wall papered and furnished it, even to including small parts such as ventilator grills and door handles. His philosophy was that everything should be in perfect accord and have a spiritual calm.
On completion of a project, Voysey would photograph the interiors before any of the new owner's possessions were added.
Several of Voysey's houses remain in the Malvern area, the Malvern Wells War Memorial was one of his last architectural works.
Hitchmough illustrated her fascinating lecture with some excellent slides.
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