England's first ever Modernist home asks for £3m

This Buckinghamshire property has a serious claim to fame: it was the first Modernist home built in England.

New Zealand architect Amyas Connell built High and Over for art historian Bernard Ashmole between 1929 and 1931 on a hilltop overlooking the Misbourne Valley in Amersham.

Ashmole, who would go on to become the Keeper of Greek and Roman antiquities at the British Museum, requested a modern Roman villa for himself and his wife, Dorothy.

Connell combined elements of modernist and classical architecture to create a house with lofty proportions and sleek geometric lines. His Y-plan captured sunlight throughout the day. (It would also earn it the nickname ‘the aeroplane house’ for its propeller-like silhouette.)

The poet John Betjeman was not quite as enamoured with High & Over as its owners, writing, ‘in 1931 all Buckinghamshire was scandalised by the appearance, high above Amersham, of a concrete house in the shape of a letter “Y”.’

Like many of its contemporaries, High & Over fell into a state of disrepair as architectural fashions changed. By the 1960s, it had been saved from demolition but split into two. The present owners have restored the Modernist property to its former glory, reinstating original features such as glazed doors and ceiling light boxes, finishes, and stylings, as well as much of its original layout.

A hexagonal reception hall, ringed by a circular gallery above, greets visitors to the Buckinghamshire property, while the ground floor features three reception rooms separated by folding casement doors and culminating with terraces. The house is wrapped in 1.7 acres of ‘Roman gardens’ – including a circular swimming pool dug by hand by Ashmole and his gardener George Marlow, plus lawns and mature trees.

There is also a garden house, pump room, and two garages, which are used as studios, with potential (and planning permission) for further development.

High & Over spans 5,000 sq ft, with the first floor currently consisting of five bedrooms and utility spaces, which could be further customised.

Up on the top floor—originally the nursery and bedrooms—is a cosy lounge area and study that opens onto a rooftop terrace with spectacular views over Old Amersham and the valley.

Aucoot is listing High & Over for £3m.