Shrubs Wood
A modernist country house by architects Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff, Shrubs Wood demonstrates how international geometric abstraction could transform the English domestic tradition.
At a glance
Grade II* listed and privately owned, this 1933–34 residence is one of only two houses designed during the celebrated partnership between Mendelsohn and Chermayeff. Its radical reinterpretation of the country house type combines striking exterior geometry with innovative interior planning and bespoke integrated furniture.
History
Shrubs Wood was constructed between 1933 and 1934 in Buckinghamshire. Originally called Nimmo House, it received its present name in 1949 when Bridget D’Oyly Carte—the renowned theatre impresario and daughter of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Richard D’Oyly Carte—acquired the property and renamed it.
What you see
The house is celebrated for its exterior composition, dramatic staircase, and seamlessly integrated furniture design. Mendelsohn and Chermayeff created a modernist interpretation of the traditional English country house—a rare synthesis that critics consider exemplary of “mature” Modernism. The geometric clarity of the facade and the careful relationship between form and function distinguish the design.
Cultural significance
Shrubs Wood represents a pivotal moment in British interwar architecture, when European modernist principles could be applied to the quintessentially English country house programme. Its historic importance has made it a preferred location for period television and film, including productions of Agatha Christie’s Marple and Poirot, Midsomer Murders, Jonathan Creek, and Endeavour.
Key facts
- Designed by Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff
- Built 1933–1934
- Grade II* listed status
- One of only two residential projects by the Mendelsohn–Chermayeff partnership
- Coordinates: 51.6377, −0.549
Practical information & getting there
Shrubs Wood is privately owned and not open to the public. The house is located in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, approximately 20 miles west of central London. You can view the property’s exterior from public roads in the area.
Sources & resources
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