Youlbury House

Youlbury House is a Grade II listed modernist house located in the Youlbury Woods near the Youlbury Scout Activity Centre and the Boars Hill in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. It was designed by Hal Moggridge and built from 1969 to 1971 for Lord Goodhart (William Goodhart QC). The house is noted for its architectural significance and the close rapport between the client and the architect. It is also recognized for preserving the historical elements of the original Victorian garden of the renowned archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans.

Original Victorian House
The original house was called Youlbury, like the area. and it dated back to the Victorian era when it was built by Sir Arthur Evans in 1893 for his wife Margaret, daughter of E. A. Freeman. Margaret died that year but he went ahead with the house plans: the landscaped gardens that Evans planted, the artificial lakes with the bathing huts and a waterlogged punt, the house and its viewing platforms over the Vale of the White Horse and Berkshire downs. The gardens had tangled paths overhung with pink and white rhododendrons under a canopy of oak and pine, Himalayan poppies or the 'strawberry' tree, showing Evan's love for the natural world.

James Stewart Candy, who lived there as a child, and later became Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames describes the house in his autobiography being luxurious with many rooms, pictures, tapestries, a huge library, twenty two bedrooms in total, five bathrooms and a Roman bath. Outside one of the bathroom was the head and shoulder of a bear from the Carpathian Mountains that attacked Sir Arthur's brother, Norman. It was presented in a large glass cage with foliage and rocks. The house had a small museum of Cretan discoveries and collections of Stone Age implement and New Zealand jade ceremonial weapons.

In the aftermath of World War I, specifically in November 1918, Youlbury House became the site for a war memorial, serving as a poignant reminder of the lives lost during the conflict. A path known as the Peace Path was established, leading visitors to the memorial. This path was distinguished by two scarlet oaks, planted as living symbols of peace, and it led to a memorial that faced the Berkshire Downs.

Beyond its memorial, Youlbury House was a nexus for social and intellectual activity, drawing esteemed guests such as Gilbert Murray, a founder of the League of Nations. The house’s connection to the scouting movement is notable, with Lord Baden Powell himself visiting and endorsing the site as a new headquarters for the scouts, an expansion necessitated by the original headquarters becoming insufficient for the growing movement.

The grounds of Youlbury House were well-appointed, featuring amenities for recreation including a tennis court and a croquet lawn. These facilities highlight the estate’s role as a center for leisure and community gatherings.

Evans lived there when not in Knossos until his death in 1941.

The New Modernist House
After its requisition by the War Office in 1941 and subsequent damage during World War II, the house was demolished in 1950. The land was later acquired by Arthur Lehman Goodhart, and the new Youlbury House was designed by Hal Moggridge as a holiday and weekend home, requested by William Goodhart QC, Arthur Goodhart's son to blend modern architecture with the historical landscape.

Architecture and design
Youlbury House exemplifies modernist architecture with its clean lines and integration with the natural landscape. The structure features concrete floors on precast columns and western red cedar cladding. The interior includes a kinked central hallway and a unique staircase designed to allow natural light to permeate the space.

Grounds and gardens
The house is situated on 9.6 acres of land that includes features from the original Victorian garden, such as mature trees and rockeries. The gardens were designed to maintain a balance between cultivated spaces and the natural woodland environment.

Legacy
Youlbury House is a testament to the collaboration between architect and client, and to the adaptability of modern design to respect and enhance historical contexts. It continues to be a subject of study for architecture and landscape design students and enthusiasts.

Designation and conservation
Listed as a Grade II building in 2009, Youlbury House is protected by law, ensuring the preservation of its architectural features and historical significance for future generations.