4 Bedroom Detached House For Sale in Bishops Avenue, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 1EQ

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Whitewalls was built in 1926 by the renowned Arts & Crafts architect Edgar Ranger. He launched his career creating sophisticated, upmarket houses in Broadstairs and this delightful property fully illustrates his love for that bygone era with its charming period features, giving it such a special character. However, it now also provides all the attributes associated with modern day living including a detached building that makes an excellent office or studio.

Although originally known as ‘Whitewalls at Stone Gap’ before Bishops Avenue existed, the house is now included as part of the popular ‘Chessboard’ area of Broadstairs. It is approached through a wooden gate with steps down to the wraparound garden and paved path bordered by a picket fence with raised shrub and flower beds and leads to the attractive oak front door. As well as the oak front door, the varied roof lines, high chimneystacks, leaded light windows and newly painted exterior give instant external appeal even before you walk into the hall. Once inside you can begin to appreciate the delightful character features that abound throughout the house including beams, picture rails, coved ceilings, fireplaces, an oak staircase and the original parquet herringbone flooring that flows through the sitting room and morning room.

The well-proportioned sitting room includes an attractive painted brick chimney breast, a log burner and curved storage cupboards as well as a door to the delightful sun room that has French doors to the garden and windows on three sides. The morning room has original leaded light windows and a charming log burner. Friends and family will enjoy sitting down to a meal in the dining room with its built in larder cupboard and a storage cupboard backed by original Delft tiles as well as limestone floor tiles that continues through double doors into the kitchen. This includes a range cooker and shaker style wood units with granite worktops housing a variety of stand-alone appliances, a utility area, a cloakroom and a back door to the garden.

The original staircase includes an understairs cupboard and leads up to the landing where you will find a charming window seat with storage underneath, a pull-down ladder to the boarded and insulated loft. Beach style painted wood flooring and white shutters fitted to the windows create a lovely beach house ambience which flows throughout the first floor. There is access to the family bathroom with a stand-alone slipper bath and a modern vanity basin, a separate shower room and four bedrooms including a large single that can also make a useful office or nursery and three doubles. The main bedroom has a plethora of fitted cupboards, a concealed TV and a dressing table and bedroom 2 offers dual aspect, built in wardrobes, an original fireplace and sea glimpses.

At the side of the house there is a lawn and a large shed bordered by hedging, while on the other side of the house you will find steps up to a gorgeous decked terrace leading to the fabulous detached studio. The walls, floor and ceiling are fully insulated and benefits from laminate flooring and windows on all sides making it extremely light and bright. The building is accessed either via French doors or a pedestrian door and includes fitted units with a sink, fridge, storage space and a WiFi booster so would make an excellent office for anyone wanting to work undisturbed by activities in the home or a bar/games room for those with leisure in mind. There is a side gate behind the studio to the off road parking area at the front of the property.

With relatives in Broadstairs we were regular visitors for highdays and holidays, and our two sons’ spent many school holidays enjoying one of the local sandy bays: Viking, Dumpton Gap and Stone Bay. So we knew the area well before relocating here from Surrey in 2015.

Our property search led us to Whitewalls, and as soon as we stepped through the beautiful oak door it felt like home. It was like being given a warm hug, and has felt that way ever since.

The location of Whitewalls just keeps giving: at the bottom of Bishops Avenue is access to Stone Bay. Most mornings we start the day with a beach walk accompanied by our springer spaniel, heading along to the Sailing Club at Viking Bay and the Jetty. Invariably pausing for a chat with other with other dog walkers and friends, sometimes relaxing and catching up with friends over coffee at the dog friendly Pavilion on the Sands – a pretty much perfect way to start the day!

On our doorstep we have Broadstairs tennis and rugby club, North Foreland Golf club, the Squash Club and Badminton courts at Retort House. We can walk to the local independent Cinema within 15 mins, and are blessed with a vast array of restaurants, bars and coffee shops. If we fancy a change from our local haunts we might venture to Ramsgate, Margate, Deal , Whitstable or Canterbury. As members of two wine society’s we can enjoy regular wine tastings with expert talks and a meal. Broadstairs has its own theatre, and for larger productions the Marlow has an excellent programme of events in Canterbury. Other favourite activities include cycling the circular Viking Coastal path out to Reculver or a shorter ride to the medieval town of Sandwich. The local golf club also has tennis courts, and pilates classes on a Thursday morning. In the summer months we regularly take ourselves off to the beach for a swim, and occasionally get up early enough to enjoy the magnificent sunrise over Stone Bay. As a popular surfing destination, it is always enjoyable to sit and watch the surfers too. Family visits often coincide with the regular summer fireworks displays on the seafront, Dickens Week, bi-annual food festival or Folk Week in, and winter visits see us enjoying bracing beach walks followed by a glass of wine or hot chocolate by our roaring fire.

For anyone who likes riding there is a nearby stables and a number of sporting clubs provide recreational activities including cricket, bowls, tennis, squash, badminton and rugby. Broadstairs is a lovely Victorian seaside town with a wide variety of individual shops, bars and restaurants as well as annual events such as Folk Week, the Dickens Festival and the Food Fair. Another advantage of Broadstairs and nearby Ramsgate is that they have some very good primary, grammar and private schools while you can be in central London on the high speed train in under an hour and a half from Broadstairs station.

Historical Note: Edgar Ranger lived in Broadstairs for about 10 years in the mid-1920s in Long Barn, Callis Court Road, a house he designed for himself. As well as designing delightful neo-Tudor properties in and around the town he was also the co-architect of Thanet Place, a large Italianate country house built for the meat tycoon Lord Vestey.

Important information

This is a Freehold property.