Bishops Avenue, Broadstairs, Kent

Bishops Avenue | Broadstairs | Kent | CT10 1EQ

Step inside Whitewalls

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.

Seller Insight

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 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 clubs, 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, and winter visits see us enjoying bracing beach walks followed by a glass of wine or hot chocolate by our roaring fire.

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.

* These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.

Travel Information

By Road:

Broadstairs Station

Channel Tunnel

Dover Docks

miles Gatwick Airport

Charing Cross

By Train from Broadstairs

High-Speed St. Pancras

miles

1hr 22 mins

Charing Cross 1hr 56 mins

Victoria 1hr 48 mins

Canterbury West

Ashford International

Leisure Clubs & Facilities

mins

Surf School Joss Bay 01843 868171

North Foreland Golf Club 01843 862140

Broadstairs Sailing Club 01843 861373

Thanet Wanderers RUFC 01843 868857

Broadstairs and St. Peter’s Bowls Club 01843 861293

Broadstairs and St. Peter’s Tennis Club 07880 782502

Broadstairs Squash Club 01843 865484

Healthcare

St. Peter’s Surgery

01843 608860

Broadstairs Medical Practice 01843 608836

Mocketts Wood Surgery 01843 862996

QEQM Hospital 01843 225544

Education

Primary Schools:

Callis Grange Nursery and Infant 01843 862531

St. Peter’s Primary 01843 861430

St. Joseph’s Primary 01843 861738

Upton Junior 01843 861393

Wellesley Hadden Dene 01843 862991

St. Lawrence Junior 01843 572900

Secondary Schools:

Charles Dickens 01843 862988

St. George’s 01843 609000

Dane Court Grammar 01843 864941

Chatham and Clarendon House 01843 591075

St. Lawrence Senior 01843 572900

Entertainment

Sarah Thorne Theatre, Broadstairs

01843 863701

Vue Cinema Complex 0871 2240240

Palace Cinema 01843 865726

Tartar Frigate Restaurant 01843 862013

Royal Albion Hotel 01843 868071

Charles Dickens pub 01843 603040

Wyatt and Jones 01843 865126

Little Sicilian 01843 652423

Local Attractions/Landmarks

Crampton Tower 01843 871133

Dickens House Museum 01843 861232

Lilliput Mini Golf 01843 861500

Turner Contemporary 01843 233000

Spitfire and Hurricane Museum 01843 821940

Hornby Visitor Centre, Westwood 01843 233524

Quex Park 01843 841119

OUTSIDE

Rear Garden

Side Garden

Front Garden

OUTBUILDING

Council Tax Band: F

Tenure: Freehold