Our plate illustrates the residence of Mr. J. E. Boehm, A.R.A., the
sculptor. Bent's Brook is situated at Holmwood, not far south of
Dorking, on the Mid-Sussex line, and commands some fine views of
well-timbered country. The site itself is comparatively low, and the
soil being clay it was advisable to keep the building well out of the
ground, and in this way a rather unusually high elevation for such
a house was obtained. The plan is very compactly arranged, with an
ingenious approach to the well-centered hall and staircase, over
which, by a mezzanine contrivance, a good store place is secured. The
drawing-room has a belvedere bay, reached from the garden by an external
stair, under which is a covered garden seat. A balcony overlooking the
garden leads also from the drawing-room, and a billiard room is arranged
on the basement level with a separate entrance from the porch. A
tradesmen's entrance is provided elsewhere. The kitchen and offices are
on the lower floor level, and a kitchen yard is conveniently placed at
the rear. Red brick, with cut-brick dressings, is the material used
throughout for the walls, the upper parts of which are hung with
ornamental tiles. The gables are enriched with wide, massive barge
boards, and the roof is surmounted with a white wooden cupola over the
principal staircase. The terracotta panels along the entrance front,
over the principal floor windows, were designed by Mr. Boehm himself.
The work was executed by Mr. H. Batchelor, builder, of Betchworth, and
the architect of the house was Mr. R. W. Edis, F.S.A., who superintended
its erection.--_Building News_.
[Illustration: ARTISTS' HOMES No. 14 "BENT'S BROOK."]
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