Seaway Lane, Torquay, TQ2

A stunning Penthouse Apartment situated in a Grade II listed former mansion house, full of period character, in a Conservation Area. The Manor House is set on the edge of the picturesque villages of Cockington and Chelston with breathtaking views across Tor Bay. The unique building was originally named Chelston Cross and is one of Torquay's landmark buildings; it was originally built in 1867 for the world renowned engineer William Froude as a Gothic mansion with its eye catching observatory tower, which is the highest point in the area. Original features have been carefully preserved throughout, including the revolutionary 'flying staircase' which was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s son Henry, and acts as a bridge from the Minstrels gallery on the first floor to the Penthouse Apartment above it, and is made of pitch pine.Approaching the Manor House you are greeted with electric wrought iron remote controlled gates which open on to the residents car park. There are stunning well pruned gardens for use by the residents, as well as communal facilities including an indoor heated swimming pool, gym, showers and changing rooms.The door to the building with its lobby, grand hall, the fine wide-tread staircase to the Minstrels gallery above and the flying staircase leading to the Apartment are marvels in their own right, with the spectacular architecture and detail in the design evident in every direction. The Apartment itself has a particularly good sized L-shaped Hallway giving access to the principal rooms. There are four Bedrooms, two of which are good sized doubles, and there are two Jack and Jill bathrooms servicing a pair of bedrooms each. The Kitchen/Dining Room is a very generous size with doors onto a south-facing balcony, with room for two chairs and a table and providing spectacular 180° views of Tor Bay, a perfect spot to enjoy the surroundings at any time of day. The Living Room, a very bright and spacious room with ample room for dining if desired, again has some of the finest views across the English Riviera. It has a period marble fireplace with a living flame gas fire. There is also a Laundry Room as well as a Cloakroom. A door at the end of the main hall leads to the rather magical tower, known as the Brunel Tower, which has three levels to it. The bottom floor makes for a good Home Office, or possibly dining area; the wood-panelled middle level currently is arranged as a Snug; and the top floor is the wood-panelled Observatory, with superb 360° views across the entire surrounding area.The Apartment also comes with a Storage/Office Room which is completely separate from the Apartment itself on the ground floor, easily accessed via stairs from the rear door of the Apartment. As it is, it could be used as a study, an office or a den; and with the necessary permissions could even be a self-contained bedsit. There is also a storage cupboard in the basement allocated to the Apartment.There are two allocated parking spaces for the property and there is also visitor parking.
This elegant home is situated in a desirable residential location. Local amenities are aplenty and include the Co-op, cafés, vets, doctors, the Chelston Manor pub and much more, all close by. Local bus services run nearby providing flexible transport to many different destinations, and Torquay Train Station is also just a short walk away, as are the stunning grounds of Torre Abbey and Torquay Seafront.Torquay is home to an array of picturesque landmarks and local attractions which include Princess Theatre, Kents Cavern and the Model Village. A variety of beaches are on offer for both sun loungers and water sport enthusiasts, with the power boat racing event occurring annually. The new South Devon Highway provides a faster route to the A38 with a journey time of approximately 30 minutes to The Cathedral City of Exeter.The property is on a 999 year lease with share of the freehold.