House For Sale £1,000,000
Clifton Hill, Brighton, East Sussex BN1

Peacefully positioned in undoubtedly the most prestigious conservation area in the city, this characterful four-bedroom townhouse suits its Regency surroundings perfectly. It stands looking out over the city to the sea and the South Downs, and with a southerly aspect, it is filled with natural light. Internally, the house offers versatile living accommodation over four spacious floors, and every room is abundant with original period features. There is huge potential for modernisation and reconfiguration which would add considerable value in a property such as this, which could bring this elegant home back to its original grandeur. It also boasts a private walled garden, and the city shops, beach and Brighton Station are just moments away on foot. There are several popular schools, parks and the fashionable Seven Dials within easy walking distance too, so this house is sure to attract commuters, investors and families alike – all wishing for that quintessential Brighton lifestyle by the sea.

Style: Victorian townhouse 1850s

Bedrooms: 4-5 double

Bathrooms: 1 plus separate WC

Living rooms: 3-4 spacious and versatile

Outside: Walled rear garden and planting to the front

Location: Clifton Hill and Montpelier Conservation Area

Parking: Permit zone Y

Why you'll like it:

These glorious architectural 'set pieces' create a hugely attractive and varied townscape, and are tucked away in restful, leafy surroundings with long vistas down to the sea. Built during the 1850s in response to the opening of the London to Brighton trainline, these elegant homes were designed for the fashionable and wealthy who were flocking to live here at the time, resulting in the town's rapid expansion. Unlike the Regency seafront squares, many of the homes in Clifton Hill have remained as one dwelling, and this house is particularly attractive with a zinc canopy adorning the canted bay window on the raised ground floor. From this position on Clifton Hill you gain a fantastic perspective of the city with your line of sight taking you right up to Truleigh Hill in the west, while to the south, the city's newest landmark: The i360, rises up, with the sea forming an ever-changing backdrop.

Upon entry, the scale and character of the house become immediately apparent. The ceiling is high, and the original finials remain, as does the original anaglypta wallpaper below the dado rail. Natural light streams in to the main reception room to the left which faces south with a wide bay sash window, and being elevated from the street, it is private from within. The period features continue in here with picture rails, deep skirtings and panelling around the window, and double timber doors are in place to divide this room from the second reception next door. With these open, the room doubles in size allowing ample space for formal dining, socialising and relaxation, and to the rear you look out to the peaceful garden. There are two fireplaces; one of which is open and working adding warmth and atmosphere to wintery evenings.

Moving through the house, there is a third reception room to the rear which leads on to a utility area and access to the rear garden. This is one of the first areas where reconfiguration could take place. If needed you could create a fourth/fifth bedroom here with an en suite bathroom and move the utilities downstairs.

The lower ground floor is made up of two generous rooms almost mirroring the reception rooms above. The kitchen is down here with a deep pantry and a light-well courtyard looking up to the garden, while to the front, the dining room/bedroom four is incredibly bright due to its southerly orientation. While it is technically lower ground, it is only partially so, and it is set well back from the road ensuring it receives plenty of light. Opening these rooms would not only create a fantastic, open plan kitchen and family room, but would allow the natural light to permeate right through. Again, there are some lovely original features in the kitchen which would benefit from restoration, including timber framed cabinets and a sizable hearth for a range cooker, but the potential is huge to transform this space to cater for the modern lifestyle.

On the first floor there are two sizable double bedrooms with the master spanning the front of the house looking out over the city below open skies. Bedroom two has a peaceful outlook and both have period features and built-in clothes storage. They have easy access to the family bathroom to the rear, and bedroom three is in the loft space on the second floor. The views only improve the further up the house you go and being double-aspect they now take in the rolling hills of the South Downs to the rear, and the seascape to the front which runs behind the roof line of the local landscape.

Outside, the rear garden is ripe for landscaping as it is simply set to lawn with tall flint walls at present. There is a large stone storage area in the side return, and it does not feel overlooked at all due to its position on the street. It may even be possible to link the lower ground floor with the garden, so you have access from the kitchen – all food for thought.

Agent's thoughts:

This home will be a hugely exciting prospect for many. While there are signs of age to the internal decoration, it is essentially a blank canvas for those with an eye for interiors and a respect for the natural character of the building, to come in and restore it, creating an exceptional family home.

Owner's secret:
"This has been a wonderful family home for us for over 20 years. It has been incredible for raising our children as there is plenty of space so we don't feel on top of one another, and the location could not be more convenient for parks, schools and the beach. There is a real sense of community in Clifton Hill with lots of families due to the favoured school catchment, and the daily commute to London has been a breeze with the station just 5 minutes away on foot. We no longer need the space so we are looking to downsize, but the views and light this house enjoys will be hard to replicate wherever we go."

Where it is:
Shops: Local 1 min walk, city centre 3 min walk
Train Station: Brighton Station 5 min walk
Seafront or Park: St Ann`s Well Gardens, St Nicholas Play Park and Rest Gardens 2 min walk, seafront 6 min walk

Closest Schools:
Primary: Brunswick Primary, Middle Street, & St Paul`s CofE

Secondary: Hove Park, Blatchington Mill, Cardinal Newman rc

Private: Brighton College

This charming period townhouse is beautifully situated in one of Brighton's finest locations, with the beach, St Ann's Well Gardens, and the cafe culture of the Seven-Dials on your doorstep. A mere five-minute walk from the cultural and commercial heart of the city, this peaceful home also offers easy access to Brighton Station and the A23, which have direct and fast links to the airports and London.