Hills House, Denham
| Hills House | |
|---|---|
 Hills House | |
| General information | |
| Type | Residential |
| Architectural style | Netherlandish Clacissism |
| Location | Denham, Buckinghamshire |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Brick |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Awards and prizes | Listed as Grade II* by English Heritage |
Hills House is a 17th Century North European, classical residence located on the Village Road in Denham, Buckinghamshire, England. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, it was the home of Merle Oberon and her husband Sir Alexander Korda. In 1975 the house was purchased by Sir John and Lady Mills.
Description
The house is built of red brick with a tile roof. It has four gables facing the street, alternately shaped and stepped, and features three storeys. The sections of the house frontage differ. The left section has six double-hung, flush windows with glazing bars, flat brick arches and small brick cornice mouldings. The right section windows have cambered brick relieving arches. The ground floor has an entrance door with wooden architrave and hood on carved brackets. The gables have brick copings and the ground and first floor have brick bands. The interior is reported to feature a semi-circular recess with fluted pilasters and moulded cornice and newel staircase in oak. The exterior is partially covered with wisteria vine.
The house is listed as Grade II* by English Heritage,[1] and features a blue plaque because of its historical significance.[2]
History
Alexander Korda (1893-1956) bought the house and estate at Denham for the sum of 15,000 pounds, planning to build film studios on the property. He managed to obtain permission for the construction and sent to California for architects to build the studios, which opened in 1936 but suffered from financial difficulties.[3] After Korda's marriage to film star Merle Oberon (1911-1979) in 1939, the couple lived in the house until their divorce in 1945. The area where the film studio stood is now a park.[4]
The John Mills family bought Hills House in 1975. However, the 4-acre (1.6 ha) garden and the house eventually became too large and the stairs too difficult for the elderly Sir John (1908-2005), and Lady Mills (1911-2005). In 2003 they moved from the house to a bungalow in the village of Denham.
References
- ↑ "Hills House, Denham". Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- ↑ "Showbusiness Charity The Heritage Foundation Will be Staging a Special Tribute to the Late Sir John Mills CBE on Sunday 9th April". Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- ↑ "Korda's Denham Studios". Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- ↑ "Sir John Mills, Moving Memories". Retrieved 28 October 2011.
External links
Coordinates: 51°34′21″N 0°29′50″W / 51.5725°N 0.4972°W