High Street, Ilfracombe, North Devon

TO BOOK YOUR VIEWING, WHEN CALLING QUOTE REFERENCE: RY0585

Owner's comments

"We jumped at the chance to buy this property more than 10 years ago. It is in a beautiful part of North Devon, stunning scenery and close to Exmoor and all its glories. This property offered us a quirky and unique home with stacks of potential for development. The flexibility of the property has allowed us to grow and change our environment to accommodate our needs. We have enjoyed our membership at Tunnels beach, swimming there often. Also taking advantage of indoor swimming in Ilfracombe and our local cinema and theatre. There are lots of pubs, live music events and food venues in town, as well as good public transport links to Barnstaple and beyond. It is with some regret that we have chosen to move nearer to family and leave lovely Ilfracombe."

Accommodation

Often, viewing houses can flatter to deceive, as prospective buyer’s expectations don’t always align with reality. However, expect the unexpected with this truly one of a kind home…

Prepare to be simply amazed upon setting foot inside this extraordinary property that just keeps on giving. An entrance hall unlike no other gives you a little flavour of the surprises to follow, with a double height ceiling through a 360° gallery landing above providing an incredible feeling of space. The electric roller garage door still allows space for cars to be driven into this area, and the ground floor could be utilised as a storage for motorbikes or workshop/storage for classic cars, with internal bi-fold doors opening into a further reception area. Also from the entrance, stairs rise to the first floor, as does a fully functioning lift, while another door accesses a hallway presenting the garden and further accommodation. 

The aforementioned reception area has another set of doors accessing the outside, albeit rarely in use. This large open room is utilised as a seating space, with a handy utility area just off from the room, along with another space set up as an occasional bedroom. A further set of internal bifold doors present an extraordinary work space. The open nature of this huge ground floor is due to the property’s historic use as a nightclub and restaurant, but now arranged to allow for various business interests, leisure activities and hobbies. Now a large arts and crafts room that could cater for a multitude of different ideas and interests. To the left, there is a quirky hot tub room with separate men’s and women’s toilets, one of which also includes a walk-in shower. Another door from here also opens back into the work space, which has a section arranged as a gym. From the raised area at the the back of the arts and crafts room, a door accesses a small courtyard, and completing the downstairs accommodation is a workshop area which has another set of stairs leading to the first floor. 

A unique 360° gallery landing on the first floor is accessed from stairs and lift from the entrance hall below, and is filled with an abundance of light from a pleasant double aspect. A couple of steps lead up to a set of doors which presents a balcony and a small seating space to enjoy a wonderful sea view. Another door opens into an inner landing which, in turn, presents the majority of the main living accommodation. A useful cloakroom is to the left, with a WC and wash basin, in addition to access into a boarded loft space for storage. 

A double set of doors open from the landing to a magnificent sitting room with exceptionally high ceilings amongst many other charming period features which include traditional picture rails and tall skirting boards. Glorious windows look out over the beautiful coastline and they also illuminate this excellent reception area - the main hub of the home. The sitting room flows into an 'L' shape, making for a pleasant dining area, also accessed from the landing. An internal window from this room allows light into the kitchen, which is fully fitted with range of wall and base units for storage, while also providing space for a breakfast table and chairs. There is a fixed breakfast bar and room for a freestanding fridge/freezer, with fitted appliances including an eye-level electric oven, gas hob and extractor canopy over, in addition to space for a dishwasher. 

Another door opens into a further first floor hallway which has more useful loft storage, and leads round to a utility area at the back of the building - a great space housing the boiler as well as space for your washing machine and tumble dryer. Here there is another WC, while stairs lead down into the workshop below. A hatch in the ceiling gives access onto the roof via a temporary set of stairs. 

Back towards the middle landing area, a handful of steps make for quirky split level accommodation, with bedroom one presented on the left. This comfortable double room is served by a large four piece en-suite facility, comprising a WC, wash basin, freestanding bath and an enclosed shower cubicle. Bedroom two is yet another quirky bedroom, with a set of steps dividing the room and creating a high-rise sleeping area - the perfect fun bedroom for children, with great storage space underneath. Another en-suite shower room serves the room, while bedroom three and its’ third en-suite shower room completes the home. This is another double bedroom, currently arranged as a perfect study area. 

With its incredible 4,296 square feet of accommodation, this enormous property offers an abundance of space, period charm and character along with great versatility and adaptability. 

Outside & parking

Externally, Charleston Court gives little clue as to the sheer extent of the home that hides behind the front door. The front of the home is accessed via a narrow lane, just off Ilfracombe High Street. The lane is quite well hidden away but also, via another alley, leads down on foot to the Promenade.  Despite its location, it features a space to park a car in front of an electric roller garage door, adjacent to the main entrance. 

Accessed via a long hallway on the ground floor is a tucked away garden that allows for quite easy maintenance. From the back door and up a handful of steps, leads onto a hardstanding area with a sheltered patio and seating space. There are tall walled boundaries, while some raised flowerbeds provide colour and decoration to this quiet and peaceful outside area. Additionally, there is a greenhouse as well as a further pleasant spot to sit and enjoy. 

Furthermore, there is a small and completely enclosed courtyard which is accessed via a back door from the large workspace. From the utility area there is access, through a hatch, to the roof.  Here there is a terrace fully enclosed with netting - which also prevents neighbouring seagulls joining you. The current owners have utilised this as a beautiful area to sit and enjoy a glass of wine of an evening, take in sunset and look out to sea beyond North Devon’s dramatic coastline.

Location

what3words - ///grumbling.stubble.sharpen

Ilfracombe town offers a variety of independent shops along with larger supermarkets both in and out of town including Lidl, Tesco and Co-Op with further shops, art galleries, restaurants and bars within the area. The picturesque seafront and harbour area is where the renowned artist Damien Hirst influence can be found along with his ‘Verity’ statue at the harbour entrance. In addition is the exciting new water hub and café making the harbour area a hive of activity. Exmoor National Park is just around 10 miles away and is renowned for its undulating Moors and pasture land with rivers running down through deep wooded combes and valleys to spectacular cliffs along the North Devon coast. Exmoor also offers a wealth of country pursuits including hunting, shooting, fishing and is also popular with horse riders and walkers. North Devon's superb sandy surfing beaches are also within a short car drive including Croyde, Saunton (also with championship golf course), Putsborough and Woolacombe about 6 miles away. Barnstaple, the Regional centre, is about 12 miles and offers the area's main business, commercial, leisure and shopping venues as well as renowned Pannier Market and North Devon District Hospital. At Barnstaple there is access to the North Devon link road, which in turn leads, in about 45 minutes, to Junction 27 of the M5 motorway and where Tiverton Parkway also offers a fast service of trains to London (Paddington in just over 2 hours). 

Useful information

• Tenure - Freehold
• Age - Approx 1850's
• Heating - Gas central heating
• Drainage - Mains
• Windows - Mostly double glazed throughout 
• Council Tax - Tax band D
• EPC Rating - Current - D/56 / potential - B/84
• Nearest Primary School - Ilfracombe Church of England Junior School (approx. 0.4 miles/>10 minute walk)
• Nearest Secondary School - The Ilfracombe Academy (approx. 0.7 miles/15 minute walk)
• Seller's position - No onward purchase

TO BOOK YOUR VIEWING, WHEN CALLING QUOTE REFERENCE: RY0585