Brookdale Avenue, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34

Brookdale Lodge is a Victorian gentleman's residence packed full of exquisite architectural period features and built and designed in the late 1800's by a well-known local architect of the time W M Robins. The property has significant architectural merit and has been written about and mentioned in numerous publications about the history of Ilfracombe and it's buildings over the years. Nearly every room within the house has some form of period feature be that the huge bay windows, the extravagant decorative coved ceilings and central light roses, or the deep moulded skirting boards and elaborate door architraves, superb marble fireplaces with their cast iron and tiled insets or the fantastic gothic style stained glass windows. Upon entering the property there is a wide hallway with a splendid original mosaic tiled floor and an imposing sweeping staircase rising to the first floor with a substantial ornate turned balustrade and spindles and oak panelling across one wall.

The downstairs windows include unspecified "historical" characters and illustrations of family interests of nature and sport. The first floor includes a pre-Raphaelite type figure and vignettes of family life such as Valentine's Day, Grandmother Nan, At home and Trespassers (young children up to mischief in the kitchen.) Many of the windows have top quality fitted 'Hillary's' blinds and shutters.

Further historical information and details on the listing can be found by following these links:

http://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-390165-brookdale-lodge-1-ilfracombe

http://homepages.which.net/~gk.sherman/ilfracombe/jb98_11.htm

The property is located centrally and conveniently and is just a few hundred yards from the High Street shops and a similar distance from the picturesque seafront and working harbour which is also home to world renowned artist, Damien Hirst's, 60ft tall 'Verity' statue. There are a variety of shops close by including the Lidl and Co-Op supermarkets with a Tesco store also located within the town. The local schools for all ages are within easy reach.

The main entrance into the home is via a spacious 24ft long conservatory which in turn opens into the main original entrance hall which has the superb mosaic tiled floor and wide staircase leading up to the first floor. The main large reception rooms lead off through large panelled doors with elaborate decorative architraves and there is an impressive ornate coved ceiling and central light rose. The 20ft x 14ft lounge is home to the very unusual yet very impressive 'V' shaped bay window and there is also a second but smaller squared bay to the front. There is a marble fireplace with cast iron inset and mantle over and a tiled hearth providing an additional focal point to the room together with deep moulded skirting boards, coved ceiling and centre rose. The ground floor also has a study/office/morning room which has a curved wall and large windows each with stained glass leaded lights over.

Across the hall is the second reception room, either an additional sitting room or perhaps a formal dining room and measures a very generous 20ft x 15ft with a very large and imposing bay window with attractive stained glass and fitted shutters. The window enjoys a pleasant open outlook over neighbouring properties towards the Torrs. At one side of the room is a deep recess with decorative architrave around with further deep skirting boards, coved ceiling and central light rose. A marble fireplace with a cast iron and tiled inset and hearth and mantle over again provides a centre piece to the room.

The kitchen and dining/family room is located at the rear of the house and is large open room. The dining/family area has an impressive and original mosaic tiled floor and opens in to the kitchen area which has a range of fitted base and wall units, a range style cooker and a recess for a fridge/freezer. There is a door that leads out to the rear as well as doors in to a separate utility room and a side lobby which in turn opens on to the parking area. The utility room has plumbing for an automatic washing machine.

A rear lobby, behind the staircase, opens in to a large cloakroom/wc which has potential for use as a wet room. Currently there is a low level wc and hand basin and a provision for the addition of a shower.

As you climb the wide staircase to the first floor, attractive stained glass leaded light widows at the side come in to view and the arched and panelled ceiling adds a further feature to the large split level landing which has all 5 bedrooms and the bathroom leading off. There is also a large airing cupboard.

The master bedroom is a spacious 20ft x 15ft room with a large bay window enjoying a pleasant open outlook. Bedroom 2 has a much more shallow bay opening onto a delightful first floor hexagonal covered balcony with attractive wooden balustrade and offering a vista across the neighbourhood and towards the nearby Torrs. This bedroom has its own en-suite shower room with both the bedroom area and en-suite having stained glass leaded light windows. Bedroom 3 has an 11ft high vaulted ceiling and a most impressive gothic style, almost church like, stained glass feature window which is a real treat when the sunlight pours through and reflects the colours and patterns in to the room. Again there is an en-suite facility; this time a modern shower room.

There are two further bedrooms. Bedroom 4 has the 11ft high ceiling and a useful high level storage. Bedroom 5 has further attractive stained glass leaded light windows.

Outside, at the rear of the property, accessed from Church Road, there is an off road parking area for 2/3 cars. Steps lead down to a small yard which gives access via a lobby in to the kitchen of the house. Back around on the Brookdale Avenue side, a gate opens into the front garden which stretches across the width of the property and has flowerbeds. The main part of the garden extends away from the side of the house and provides an attractive and good sized, sunny and level amenity space with hedge borders, pond, flowerbeds, shrubs and bushes and pleasant open views. A pathway leads around to the rear where there is a yard area and pedestrian access on to Church Street.

Brookdale Lodge offers particularly flexible and spacious accommodation in a very convenient and central location. There is no onward chain and we fully advise a full and early internal inspection to appreciate everything the property has to offer.

AGENTS NOTE:
Adjacent to and attached to Brookdale Lodge are two self-contained one bedroom flats which are also for sale individually. Those flats are being sold subject to the balance of original 999 year leases but the freehold title for those flats is owned/governed by the owner of Brookdale Lodge and will pass to whoever purchases the property. The flats are responsible for their own maintenance and insurance costs but the freeholder is usually the one responsible for administering and organising those maintenance and insurance arrangements.