East Cliff Road, EX7

An elegant, detached Italianate style Victorian villa set within outstanding mature gardens and grounds with the plot extending to around 1.4 acres. Positioned within close proximity to the coastline, beach and local amenities. Many outstanding original features, extensive versatile accommodation and separate ancillary detached cottage.

Situation

Redcliffe is set in an enviable position within a high walled plot that affords tremendous privacy, located within a quarter of a mile of the town centre amenities, the beach and the railway station. Dawlish is a resort set on the south Devon coastline, famed for its expansive lawns beside a brook, and the black swans. The town offers many amenities, including a range of independent shops and cafes, with a superstore on the outside of the town. Educational facilities include a good range of primary schools, a community college offering secondary education, and private education available at the well-regarded Trinity School, located approximately three miles away in the seaside town of Teignmouth. The renowned Torquay boys and girls Grammar Schools, and many other schools, both private and state in Torquay and Exeter  are easily accessible by train. Dawlish has a mainline link to London Paddington and commuter trains to Exeter and Torbay. There are many leisure facilities close by, with the town having a long sandy beach that stretches to Dawlish Warren with its nature reserve and 18-hole golf course to the north-east. There are many boating opportunities on both the Exe estuary and River Teign. Teignmouth Golf Course is close by in the Haldon Hills above Dawlish, where there are a good range of footpaths and bridle ways for country walks with outstanding views. The South West Coast Path is accessible within three hundred metres of the house with the Exe Extuary Cycleway close by. The Cathedral City and County Capital of Exeter is 14 miles away with its wide range of up market shops, private and state schools, well established University with a renowned reputation, an international airport, and regular trains to London and other parts of the country.

Description

Available to the market for the first time in over 70-years Redcliffe is a fine example of a Victorian Italianate Villa. The renowned early 19th century art and architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner wrote the following references to Redcliffe, affording the house a real sense of history and provenance:

"Up East Cliff Road is Redcliffe, which is the finest example of a Victorian Italianate Villa within a large garden." 

“Further on (are) the relics of an affluent mid Victorian development of Italianate stuccoed villas in large gardens. The best-preserved survivals are Redcliffe in East Cliff Road and Oak Park House." 

Externally elegant Redcliffe has stucco elevations cornices and high chimney stacks set beneath tiled roves. There is a beautiful Entrance Portico with period style external lighting, crenulations, a mature climbing rose beside and double panel entrance doors open to the Entrance Vestibule which has shuttered sash windows. A feature panel and leaded light inner door opens to the Reception Hall, a welcoming space with a high ceiling having an ornate cornice and a fabulous turning staircase, with a balustrade and a stained-glass window above rising to the upper floor. There is an ornate column style radiator, and panel doors open to the principal rooms. The Dining Room is an attractive room with a large, shuttered sash window overlooking the Mediterranean style internal courtyard and a feature fireplace with a carved surround. The Study is a versatile room and a good home working space with extensive built-in book shelves and French windows overlooking and leading out to the garden. There is a cornice to the ceiling and a feature tiled fireplace as well as a column style radiator. The Drawing Room is remarkably spacious, with a particularly notable ornate cornice and a central rose. There is panelling to the walls with shelving above and a feature fireplace with a marble surround, a raised slate hearth and a log burning stove. There are two full height shuttered sash windows, one of which opens to the high quality “Hartley Botanical” Conservatory, recently built with a coated aluminium frame and multiple windows overlooking the East and the South facing lawn. There is a paved floor and shelves ideal for displaying plants and ornaments. The Sitting Room is another spacious room with a large sliding sash windows taking in views across the mature gardens. It has a high ceiling with an ornate cornice, feature light fitments and a large built-in display cabinet with cupboards and open shelves. There is a fireplace with a large log burning stove, a raised marble hearth and a carved surround. Leading off the reception hall a door opens to a Lobby Area which gives access to the remaining ground floor accommodation. There is a Storage Room with feature circular skylight and a Hallway with a tiled floor. There is a Scullery with a butler sink, built-in cupboards and shelves and access to the garden. Next is a Ground Floor Bathroom with a part opaque glazed sash window, a tiled floor and a three-piece suite with a roll top, claw foot freestanding bath. There is a small Utility Room, and a door opens to stone stairs which descend to the Cellar. This comprises several large interconnecting rooms with hardstanding and cobbled floors. One of the rooms houses the mains fed gas boiler providing hot water and central heating to the main house. The Kitchen is a charming space with a farmhouse style and a bespoke range of timber fronted units, tiled work surfaces and a gas fired triple Aga with a tiled surround and with full height and cupboards beside. There are quarry tiles to the floor and there is a large sash window with an automated external shutter (with automated shutters being fitted to the windows on this elevation of Redcliffe), with a bench seat beneath taking in good views across the grounds as well as views across the sea and towards the Jurassic coastline. The kitchen opens to a large Breakfast Room, which also has a range of built-in kitchen-style units and a window overlooking the grounds, and a further window overlooking the internal courtyard which is accessed through a barn door. Off the breakfast room is a large cool Larder with extensive shelving. This room has a barred open window facing North which effectively keeps produce cool in all seasons.

The wonderful Mediterranean style Internal Courtyard provides a perfect sheltered external entertaining space, enclosed by walling and cast-iron railings with mature vines as well as a raised water feature. A gate opens to the driveway.

The First-Floor Landing has a cornice and central rose to the ceiling, a dado rail and a feature balustrade above the stairwell. There are four bedrooms leading off the main landing, all of which are large rooms. The Principal Bedroom Suite has a sash window taking in sea views through the trees. There is an Ensuite Shower Room with a three-piece suite, in addition to walk-in cupboard/wardrobe. The Second Bedroom, overlooks South to the lawn through two sash window, allowing glimpses of the sea through the trees. It has a column radiator. The Third Bedroom also with a sash window facing South with glimpses of the sea, has a column radiator. The Fourth Bedroom has a sash window facing North built-in wardrobes and a fireplace. The Principal Bathroom on the first-floor level has a sash window overlooking the approach and a three-piece suite with tasteful full height tiled surrounds with a claw foot roll top bath and access to the loft space as well as a door with “Jack and Jills” to the third bedroom.

Leading off the half landing there is a further suite of rooms which can informally serve as an Annex within the principal accommodation. There is a hallway with a sash window overlooking the courtyard and off this is a three-piece Modern Shower Room with wet room style flooring, an open shower area with dual heads and triple controls and a feature circular stone wash hand basin. In addition there is a large separate bathroom with a three-piece bathroom suite with a panel bath, a large and effective built-in linen cupboard, and a sash window with an outlook over the grounds. There is also an ornate column style radiator. The Kitchenette has a sash window and a range of fitted kitchen units. Stairs rise to a very large Bedroom 5, being a dual aspect, with a sash window overlooking East and West including excellent sea views. There are an extensive range of built-in cupboards, wardrobes and open shelves with two built-in seats.

The Cottage

The Cottage is a separate detached ancillary dwelling giving good options for home and income/cross generational living etc. The cottage has rendered elevations set beneath a tiled roof with four inset dormer windows.

A uPVC double glazed door opens to the uPVC double glazed Entrance Porch. The Sitting Room has a corner set fireplace having a stone surround and a log burning stove. This space opens to the Kitchen which has a range of units, a stable stall door opening to a courtyard, and a window overlooking the garden.Also leading off the sitting room there is a Lobby Area that has a cupboard housing the LPG boiler supplying the cottage with hot water and central heating. This, in turn opens to a three-piece Ground Floor Bathroom with a panel bath. The Bedroom has a feature curved wall and a window overlooking the approach. Set within the cottage building there is a metal “up and over” door which leads into a garage and, within the garage space there is access to the open attic which has four dormer windows and provides scope for conversion.

The Gardens and Grounds

The gardens and grounds at Redcliffe offer something rather special with the plot extending to around 1.4 acres in total. From East Cliff Road automated cast iron entry gates with stone pillars to either side open to the sweeping, tree-lined driveway. There is an expansive parking area immediately in front of the property and the driveway also descends to the ancillary cottage where there is further parking. Surrounding the driveway and the throughout the plot in general there are an extraordinary array of mature evergreen and deciduous trees which afford great privacy and a sense of seclusion. Set on the south side of the house there is a paved entertaining terrace which interplays well with the conservatory to provide a good sense of inside/outside living. Set below the terrace there is a fabulous sweeping lawn providing a perfect spot to contemplate the idyllic surroundings and for the possibility of the placement of a marquee/croquet set etc. Set between the lawn and the boundary there is a beautiful meandering pathway, sheltered by the mature trees and shrubs. This leads through feature metal arches to further pathways which extend around either side of a shrubbery/wooded area leading to a shaped lawn with borders. This area has numerous trees, shrubs and specimen plants. A courtyard area with a pergola set above having a remarkable mature wisteria is beside the East side of the house. There are extensive walled garden areas with an orchard, cane fruits and gravel pathways with a truly outstanding area of enclosed garden stocked with plum, damson and apple trees, and numerous specimen roses providing productive fruit and vegetables. There is a chicken house with ample space for a dozen chickens. The Cottage itself has its own small paved sitting area enclosed by picket fencing in addition to the Mediterranean style internal courtyard area of the Main House.

EPC Ratings:

Redcliffe (Number 10) Energy Rating E

The Cottage (Number 10A) Energy Rating E

EPC Rating: E

Parking - Driveway

Parking - Garage

Parking - Secure gated

Parking - Disabled parking available