Charles Francis Annesley Voysey
1857-1941

Voysey was the first modern English architect to design houses almost free of stylistic reminiscences. His simple country houses in the cottage style, with clear lines and plain surfaces, provided an alternative to the heavy, ornately decorated Victorian style. He also incorporated truly original features in his use of windows, doors and semi-open floorplan.

His furniture, textiles, and wallpaper emulated the same simple, functional ideal. His work influenced later design styles, particularly Art Nouveau, and his houses became the prototype for the small 20th-century suburban house.

In 1898, Voysey designed what is considered to be his finest work, Broadleys, on Lake Windermere. The roof is low-pitched with three groups of rounded bay windows functioning as a vertical counterpoint. The main hall rises through two stories.