House For Sale £1,850,000
HISTORY
The Royal Buildings were designed by Edward Holl, a naval architect and surveyor, in 1813 (during the Napoleonic Wars) to form part of Deal’s new naval hospital. Originally two separate dwellings, 3 and 4 Royal Buildings provided accommodation for the Governor and the Senior Physician. When the naval hospital was taken over by the Royal Marines, the properties were utilised as accommodation for senior officers until the Colonel Commandant took both as his main residence, combining them into one magnificent dwelling. There is potential for the original layout to be reinstated and for the property to be re-divided into two separate dwellings, subject to any necessary consents.
Every inch of this prestigious home is steeped in history, with HRH Prince Phillip (as Captain General of the Royal Marines), The Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill all reputed to have spent time there during its illustrious past. The main bedroom suite was set aside for the exclusive use of HM The Queen Mother, who often spent time at nearby Walmer Castle as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
During the 1990s, the property passed from the ownership of the Royal Marines into private hands, where it has remained as a landmark private residence.
The current owners of Napier House have resided there since 2006 and, during that time, have undertaken a fascinating journey of restoration and improvement. They have sensitively renovated this fine Georgian home, taking great care to complement the exceptional array of period features with bespoke kitchens and woodwork from Thoroughly Wood. The end result is over 6,700 sq ft of grand and luxuriously appointed accommodation, with a highly versatile layout, arranged over five floors and ideal for inter-generational living.
THE PROPERTY
Grade II listed Napier House is entered via a handsome front door with fanlight over. An immediate sense of the character within is gained on entering the vast reception hall, with its high skirting boards, cornice work, decorative alcoves and archways.
Two beautifully appointed kitchens are found on the ground floor, both handcrafted by Thoroughly Wood, with bespoke, traditionally styled fitted units set around granite topped work surfaces, along with Agas and integrated Miele appliances. There are splendid sash windows with window seats; further lovely sash windows are found throughout the house, each with original working shutters.
The kitchen/breakfast room to the right opens into a wonderful family room, with a cosy open fire and fine views over the gardens. Also on the right-hand side of the house, an inner hallway leads to a useful cloakroom and utility room, whilst on the left there is a charming reading room, a coats room and a further cloakroom.
A sweeping staircase rises to the first floor where there is a grand drawing room with intricate cornice work, a marble fireplace and two oriel bay windows which afford sea views. A door to the left of the room opens to a study, whilst a further door to the right leads through to the spectacular principal suite. This comprises an elegant bedroom with tall sash windows offering sea views, a dressing room with bespoke fitted furniture from Thoroughly Wood and a traditionally styled en-suite bathroom.
The second floor comprises two impressive double bedrooms, a dressing room with a luxury en-suite bathroom and a further bathroom with a beautiful slipper bath. The top floor offers an additional three double bedrooms and a well-appointed bathroom with a stylish white suite.
Both halves of the house have a lower ground floor, including three further reception rooms, an office, two wine cellars, a store room and a boiler room. One of these reception rooms is a wonderfully atmospheric sitting room with an exposed brick fireplace and finished with Farrow & Ball décor.
Approached through an attractive enclosed front garden, Napier House sits within a secluded plot.
The rear garden is completely walled and laid mainly to lawn with beautifully planted beds and borders and several mature trees. Adjacent to the house is a Yorkstone paved patio, with inset herringbone design brick sections and a raised water feature, whilst to the rear of the plot there is a small fruit orchard and wildflower area.
An electric roller door opens to a gravelled secure parking area for between four to six cars, whilst a boat gate opens to a further secure space to the side of the property.
Napier House is ideally located, right in the heart of Deal, just one street back from the beach and within easy reach of the bustling town centre.
Walmer is a charming coastal town and provides a good range of amenities including shops and schools, whilst Deal – a former winner of the Daily Telegraph’s “High Street of the Year” award - offers an array of shopping, educational and leisure facilities. The town has a strong independent retail sector along with a number of more widely known shops in the town centre. There is a farmers market on Wednesdays, which sells local produce, as well as an established Saturday market.
Deal’s popular Astor Theatre offers musical performances, live theatre, exhibitions, movies, classes and clubs. One of the more prominent landmarks is Walmer Castle, a former residence of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, which now serves as a tourist attraction.
Sandwich, Dover and Canterbury are easily accessed via the A2 and A258 and together deliver a comprehensive range of services. The coast of France is approximately twenty five miles from the town and is visible on clear days.
High Speed train services run from Dover Priory to London St Pancras in just over an hour, and stations at Deal and Walmer provide connections to Ramsgate, Sandwich, Dover and London. Access to the Continent is excellent via the Port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone.
There are a variety of first-class golf courses in the area, including links golf at the famous Royal St. George’s Golf Club at Sandwich, and the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club. There is also a non-League football club, Deal Town FC, which plays at the Charles Sports Ground and a rugby club, Deal & Betteshanger Lions, who play at the old RM Drill Field off Canada Road.
The Royal Buildings were designed by Edward Holl, a naval architect and surveyor, in 1813 (during the Napoleonic Wars) to form part of Deal’s new naval hospital. Originally two separate dwellings, 3 and 4 Royal Buildings provided accommodation for the Governor and the Senior Physician. When the naval hospital was taken over by the Royal Marines, the properties were utilised as accommodation for senior officers until the Colonel Commandant took both as his main residence, combining them into one magnificent dwelling. There is potential for the original layout to be reinstated and for the property to be re-divided into two separate dwellings, subject to any necessary consents.
Every inch of this prestigious home is steeped in history, with HRH Prince Phillip (as Captain General of the Royal Marines), The Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill all reputed to have spent time there during its illustrious past. The main bedroom suite was set aside for the exclusive use of HM The Queen Mother, who often spent time at nearby Walmer Castle as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
During the 1990s, the property passed from the ownership of the Royal Marines into private hands, where it has remained as a landmark private residence.
The current owners of Napier House have resided there since 2006 and, during that time, have undertaken a fascinating journey of restoration and improvement. They have sensitively renovated this fine Georgian home, taking great care to complement the exceptional array of period features with bespoke kitchens and woodwork from Thoroughly Wood. The end result is over 6,700 sq ft of grand and luxuriously appointed accommodation, with a highly versatile layout, arranged over five floors and ideal for inter-generational living.
THE PROPERTY
Grade II listed Napier House is entered via a handsome front door with fanlight over. An immediate sense of the character within is gained on entering the vast reception hall, with its high skirting boards, cornice work, decorative alcoves and archways.
Two beautifully appointed kitchens are found on the ground floor, both handcrafted by Thoroughly Wood, with bespoke, traditionally styled fitted units set around granite topped work surfaces, along with Agas and integrated Miele appliances. There are splendid sash windows with window seats; further lovely sash windows are found throughout the house, each with original working shutters.
The kitchen/breakfast room to the right opens into a wonderful family room, with a cosy open fire and fine views over the gardens. Also on the right-hand side of the house, an inner hallway leads to a useful cloakroom and utility room, whilst on the left there is a charming reading room, a coats room and a further cloakroom.
A sweeping staircase rises to the first floor where there is a grand drawing room with intricate cornice work, a marble fireplace and two oriel bay windows which afford sea views. A door to the left of the room opens to a study, whilst a further door to the right leads through to the spectacular principal suite. This comprises an elegant bedroom with tall sash windows offering sea views, a dressing room with bespoke fitted furniture from Thoroughly Wood and a traditionally styled en-suite bathroom.
The second floor comprises two impressive double bedrooms, a dressing room with a luxury en-suite bathroom and a further bathroom with a beautiful slipper bath. The top floor offers an additional three double bedrooms and a well-appointed bathroom with a stylish white suite.
Both halves of the house have a lower ground floor, including three further reception rooms, an office, two wine cellars, a store room and a boiler room. One of these reception rooms is a wonderfully atmospheric sitting room with an exposed brick fireplace and finished with Farrow & Ball décor.
Approached through an attractive enclosed front garden, Napier House sits within a secluded plot.
The rear garden is completely walled and laid mainly to lawn with beautifully planted beds and borders and several mature trees. Adjacent to the house is a Yorkstone paved patio, with inset herringbone design brick sections and a raised water feature, whilst to the rear of the plot there is a small fruit orchard and wildflower area.
An electric roller door opens to a gravelled secure parking area for between four to six cars, whilst a boat gate opens to a further secure space to the side of the property.
Napier House is ideally located, right in the heart of Deal, just one street back from the beach and within easy reach of the bustling town centre.
Walmer is a charming coastal town and provides a good range of amenities including shops and schools, whilst Deal – a former winner of the Daily Telegraph’s “High Street of the Year” award - offers an array of shopping, educational and leisure facilities. The town has a strong independent retail sector along with a number of more widely known shops in the town centre. There is a farmers market on Wednesdays, which sells local produce, as well as an established Saturday market.
Deal’s popular Astor Theatre offers musical performances, live theatre, exhibitions, movies, classes and clubs. One of the more prominent landmarks is Walmer Castle, a former residence of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, which now serves as a tourist attraction.
Sandwich, Dover and Canterbury are easily accessed via the A2 and A258 and together deliver a comprehensive range of services. The coast of France is approximately twenty five miles from the town and is visible on clear days.
High Speed train services run from Dover Priory to London St Pancras in just over an hour, and stations at Deal and Walmer provide connections to Ramsgate, Sandwich, Dover and London. Access to the Continent is excellent via the Port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone.
There are a variety of first-class golf courses in the area, including links golf at the famous Royal St. George’s Golf Club at Sandwich, and the Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club. There is also a non-League football club, Deal Town FC, which plays at the Charles Sports Ground and a rugby club, Deal & Betteshanger Lions, who play at the old RM Drill Field off Canada Road.
