GUIDE PRICE: £1,000,000--£1,100,000.

INTERNAL VIEWINGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

An opportunity which comes only once, on the market for the first time in over 30 years, this grand Victorian house with a spacious sunny garden is an absolute gem. With a popular primary on the same street, shops and cafes a two minute stroll and the train station serving the airports, London and the coast 4 minutes by cab (12 on foot), it is ideal for inter-generational living, or if you would like access to an extra income or want a high end investment. Configured as a majestic 5 bedroom house on the upper floors, the one bedroom apartment on the lower floor was designed for a member of the family, so it has elegance as well as its own outside space and entrance from the street.

A restful haven with a total of 277m2 (2990 ft2) in which to spread your wings, this historic delight has been discreetly brought into the 21st century, including photovoltaic panels to feed into the national grid– so you can enjoy these breath-taking proportions guilt free! Inside, precious period details in the main house include beautiful ceiling roses and friezes which soar overhead in the double depth reception which offers a sociable, open plan lifestyle with an open flue to the glorious, marble fireplace. A second reception, used as a home office/utility opens to a veranda with a view and a surprisingly large garden ideal for an al fresco lifestyle. All of the bedrooms in the property are big, bright doubles, the bathroom with a luxury Kaldewei bath and shower room are good to go, and the apartment is light and airy with a gracious living room, a dining area, double bedroom and stylish kitchen and bathroom.

Prestonville is an exclusive area of the city between the sea and the National Park and it comes with an easy life as there is a choice of good primary, secondary schools and sixth form colleges both state and private within a 10 minute radius, the playground, café and open air theatre of Dyke Road Park is an easy walk, as is the vibrant café culture of the 7 Dials.

Style Period terraced house circa 1860’s with self-contained 1 bed patio apartment, photovoltaic panels
Type Main house: 5 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms + cloakroom, living room/kitchen, reception. 1 bedroom apartment: living room, bedroom, dining area, kitchen, bathroom
Area Prestonville
Floor Area 3047 sq. ft.
Outside Space Spacious east garden, open to south
Parking Permit zone Q, no waiting list
Council Tax Band House C, Flat A

Why you’ll like it:
Introduction:
On a sought after road known for its friendly community and quiet convenience with swift access to the sea, the city and the South Downs, this architectural gem is in a popular conservation area where stately Victorian terraces provide light, stylish homes – but this may well be the only one which remains as one freehold house with no formal leases and not listed, which leaves options open stnc. Set privately back and up from the street this imposing house has immense charm with its broad bays, generous steps to both levels, and wrought iron railings.

Inside the main house, a stained glass door opens to a hallway adorned by delicate plaster work, classic finials and carefully sourced anaglyptic wallpaper beneath the dado rail, whilst a fine example of a Victorian staircase sweeps up ahead.

The Living Room/Kitchen:
A perfect fusion of opulent proportion, original features and sympathetic open plan design, the living room/ kitchen has that rare balance between being undeniably stunning, but also very comfortable to live in. Full of sunshine, it stretches over 9.74m x 4.39m (31’11 x 14’5), with handmade, original plasterwork adorning a ceiling which soars to almost 4 meters, and raised above the street with no building behind it is not directly overlooked, so guests can relax in safe seclusion – an attribute valued in our international coastal city favoured by high flying professionals. A room to enjoy come rain or shine with a window seat beneath the broad bay at the front and garden views at the back, the handsome marble fireplace now houses a gas fire which isn't connected, but the chimney is open & functional.

Very much part of the entertaining space, but not dominant, the kitchen area celebrates company with a practical layout and family friendly wooden units and surfaces. The working area is safely tucked away behind an L shaped peninsular unit where a Neff 5 ring gas hob faces the dining area/ family table, the AEG grill/combi oven and fan oven are at eye level for easy checks and to avoid heavy lifting when catering for celebrations – and parties there will be in this home designed to enjoy.

The Second Reception/Home Office:
Past a chic cloakroom, a large vestibule with power and under stair storage – where you could replace the staircase to the lower floor, at the back of the house, a sun-lit reception of dual aspect has an east wall of glass which opens to a veranda with a fabulous view. Used as a home office/art studio with a ceramic Armitage Shanks ceramic basin and custom built desk and shelving, this large room of 3.98m x 3.26m (13’1 x 10’6) also makes family life easy with plumbing for utility machines.

The Garden:
Sunny and secure behind brick and flint walls, the garden is a joy to return to, a secret retreat lovingly tended and larger than many this close to the city centre. James Grieve (cooking) and Discovery (eating) apple trees, a Victoria plum and a gooseberry bush flourish amongst the blooms by the south facing wall, and scent the central lawn which is level for dining, a feature difficult to find in a city built on rolling Downland. A seat is built around a tree for shade during our hot summers, and surrounded by gardens with no building directly behind it is peaceful and private. The shed beneath the balcony with power raises interesting options, stnc, the greenhouse at the back will stay so you can plant fresh produce like tomatoes for the family table, and raised beds are perfect for root vegetables.

Two Double Bedrooms and Family Bathroom:
Returning inside, at the top of the stairs the first of the double bedrooms is calm and quiet. Ideal for guests it is ready to move into with leafy views and it is also next door to a luxury bathroom with a high end finish where you can bathe or shower beneath the twin heads above the Kaldewei bath which incorporates a Sound Wave bluetooth sound system on which to play your favourite music while soaking.

A few steps up, the second spacious bedroom enjoys a sea of gardens (and it is worth noting that all of the windows in the house have been draught proofed), and it is ready to move into with soothing decoration and a fitted wardrobe to one side of a chimney breast.

The Principal Bedroom:
At the front, with the serenity only a sensitive blend of historic proportion and an artistic eye can deliver, the principal bedroom spans the full width of this substantial property – 5.88m x 5.6m (19’4 x 18’5), so there is plenty of space for an en-suite if you wanted one. A room of timeless romance, it has a deep, broad bay as well as a slender sash to bring in the Sussex sunshine, a handmade ceiling rose in the form of a flower to add period romance whilst a subtle use of colour ensures it is relaxing and custom built floor to ceiling wardrobes deliver all the storage you could dream of.

Two More Double Bedrooms and a Shower Room, 2nd Floor:
Private and peaceful at the top of the house with a chic shower room to share, abundant space continues in two, lofty double rooms which span almost all of the 43.9m2 or 472ft2 of this level. At the back, the bedroom has plenty of character with a hand basin, a pretty, original fireplace and inspiring views which sweep across a distant cityscape which glitters at night. At the front, the fifth bedroom has as much to offer with ample floorspace and storage including under the eaves and an insulated loft space with a drop down ladder and a light, its own hand basin and room for quiet study – or friends to stay over.

The Self-Contained Apartment:
With its own private entrance stepping down broad stairs, built in an age reliant on natural light this apartment has plenty of it as rooms are large, the ceilings high and windows big. Designed for one of the family, there is extra sound insulation above the ceilings- which remain gorgeously high, the hallway is broad enough for a workstation even if you replaced the internal staircase, and at the front, the elegant living room has space, grace and a marble fireplace. Next door, the private double bedroom is a good size (4.58m x 3.94m – or 15’ x 12’11) and looks over the patio – so you could add French doors, stnc. Past a dining area, the modern kitchen also has access to the patio which has room for a bistro table and chairs and last but not least, at the back, the bathroom has all you need including a shower attachment above the bath and natural light.

Agent Says:
“Convenient for commuters, for schools, parks and the city, this is a very popular area where homes within walking distance of Brighton Station and vibrant, al fresco lifestyle of 7 Dials sell fast! This majestic, Victorian house is a rare find with its own self-contained apartment and its location between the sea and the National Park, both easy to reach, makes it a solid investment.”

Owner’s secret:
“Although we are ready to embrace our next step, we shall miss our beautiful home which has seen many happy celebrations and has given different generations of our family a safe haven. All of the rooms are bright and comfortable with their own period charm and character, so although central you don’t feel hemmed in, and the house is so large it is future proof – we arrived with an elderly parent who lived in the apartment and a small child, so we rented out the top storey to students, but slowly filled that floor with our other offspring! We spend most of the summer in the garden, where guests love picking our fresh fruit and vegetables which we began to grow to teach the children to respect nature. There is a supporting community and we made friends easily at the school gate just down the road, in the park’s playground, and in the local shops and café. There is plenty of permit parking, and with the station within walking distance returning home is easy, and we often meet in the middle at the 7 Dials for supper.”

Where it is:
Shops: Local 2 minute walk, 7 Dials 4 mins
Train Station: Brighton 4 minutes by car, 10-15 to walk
Seafront or Park: Park 2 mins drive, sea 5 by car
Closest schools:
Primary: Stanford Infants, Stanford Junior, Cardinal Newman
Secondary: Varndean, Dorothy Stringer, Blatchington Mill
Sixth Form: BHASVIC, MET, Varndean
Private: Windlesham, Lancing Prep, Brighton College, Brighton & Hove High, Lancing

Ideal for commuters as the station serving Gatwick and London is a 10-15 minute walk – or 4 by cab – Prestonville is one of Brighton’s favourite locations with its own friendly shops, café and bistro pub and close to the 7 Dials, known for its al fresco lifestyle and small Co-Op. Close to Dyke Road’s tennis courts, open air theatre and playground it is also easy to reach both Preston and Hove Park, both with their own communities of families, dog walkers and joggers, and they also hosts events during festivals. Local schools are good – the primary is on the same road- and both the beach and the countryside are just a short drive. The vibrant arts venues, international restaurants and cosmopolitan shopping of the city are all quick to get to by bus or on foot and for those who need a car, there’s swift access to the A23/A27 and Zone Q has no waiting list.