Proposed additions to the Harborough District Council Local List of Non-Designated Heritage Assets
Auburn Place, Bitteswell Road, Lutterworth
Ref: LUT/002
Construction Date: 1928
Architect: William Brandreth Savidge
Original Use: Private dwelling
Current Use: Nursery
Condition: Good
Parish: Lutterworth
Ward: Lutterworth West
Reason for Inclusion
Historic Interest
Built in 1928 as the home of George Spencer. Spencer owned Vedonis, a hosiery firm with a factory on Leicester Road, Lutterworth. Vedonis was a major employer in Lutterworth. George Spencer was active in local government, and he was a magistrate. He was also an important benefactor to Lutterworth. He gave the recreation ground, the cricket pitch and pavilion, a nurse's house in Gladstone Street, large donations to the Feilding Palmer cottage hospital and a new water supply for the town.
When George Spencer died in 1946 his ashes were scattered in the garden at Auburn Place. In the 1960s the house became part of Lutterworth Grammar School (now Lutterworth College), where it served as the Sixth Form centre for many years. It is now occupied by the Little Rainbows nursery.
Architectural Interest
This large arts and crafts style house was designed by William Brandreth Savidge. Described as 'a dazzling exercise in 20th century new-tudor, it was built by local builder, Peter Rourke, who was responsible for building many of the elegant houses on Bitteswell Road. Craftsmanship used inside the building includes stained glass from the William Morris company. W. B. Savidge, who was based in Nottingham, was also the architect of the Vedonis factory and offices in Nottingham. Savidge's Former Old Library in Nelson is Grade II listed.