Maisonette for sale in St Hilda's, Bridport, Dorset DT6

This beautiful apartment sits on the top two floors of a handsome Edwardian detached house, with far-reaching views across Bridport, the surrounding hills, and the sea at West Bay. Unfolding over 1,800 sq ft and south-west facing, the living spaces are flooded with light throughout the afternoon. It sits in a brilliant location on peaceful and leafy Victoria Grove – close to the town’s centre, where there are several local walking routes including one that reaches Dorset’s striking coastline in under an hour. There is a garden to the side, as well as an off-street parking space – a rarity in Bridport. When renovating it, the apartment’s owners retained much of its character, including exposed floorboards, window frames and a black marble fireplace surround.

Setting the Scene

Bridport is an industrial town with a long and rich history of producing flax for ropes, twine, netting and sailcloth, for the navy. From the 13th century (and perhaps before) it was an important hub for ropemaking; by the 18th century, it had flourished as a centre for the practice in the Southwest. As a result, it has an astonishing variety of industrial buildings and a range of well-preserved historic houses; it also has streets that are completely straight, perfect for spinning twine and rope.

This history is testified to today by large Georgian and Victorian villas, built for wealthy merchants, and smaller workers’ cottages alike. This detached house, among the significant Edwardian developments along Victoria Grove, was converted into five apartments in 1986 and is just a mile from Bridport’s harbour at West Bay. Although it was once crucial to the town’s economy, today it is a wonderful place to sit and watch the sea, sea birds and boats until the horizon – as well as a reliably great place to find fish and chips or ice cream.

The Grand Tour

Steps lead from the ground floor to the apartment’s private entrance on the first floor. A staircase from here then leads into a wide hallway above, with plenty of space for hanging coats. To one side is an open-plan kitchen and dining room that, as with the rest of the home, is defined by wonderful proportions and a brilliant quality of light.

The kitchen comprises solid oak worktops, white cabinetry and open shelves, perfect for displaying crockery. In the kitchen, lino tiles are found underfoot. A window above the sink provides far-reaching views over Bridport towards West Bay. Exposed floorboards are found throughout the rest of the room, where there is space for a large table and chairs. Built-in bookshelves at the end of the room frame a lovely space for a sitting area warmed by a fireplace fitted with a gas fire.

Also on the west-facing side of the house is the sitting room. Painted an atmospheric Dead Salmon by Farrow and Ball, and also lined with bookshelves painted in Mahogany, the room is wonderfully characterful and cosy. An original black marble fireplace surround sits on one side, still decorated with patterned Edwardian tiles. Original floorboards are also found in this room, as well as a lovely bank of glazing that allows light to pour in throughout the day.

This floor is also home to two bedrooms, one of which has a large window which once would have been hinged open and used to pulley things upwards. There is also a family bathroom, where a large window frames views of the sky from the bath. A further staircase rises to the upper floor, where the principal bedroom with pretty arched windows is found. This room has an en suite shower room and a brilliant walk-in wardrobe. There is also another large bedroom, which could double as a study. It has been fitted with some cabinetry and a sink, and so could be adopted as a kitchenette.

The Great Outdoors

Outside, the apartment has a private courtyard garden that gets the best of the sun throughout the day in summertime. Set behind wooden gates, the space has a south-facing aspect and is partly covered, and provides a charming place to potter around the garden or for eating outdoors in warmer months. There is also a private parking area which is a rare benefit so close to Bridport’s town centre.

Out and About

The handsome market town of Bridport is set among the much-coveted Dorset aonb. It has gained a reputation as the gateway to the Jurassic Coast, the only natural World Heritage Site in England; West Bay Beach and Eype are both within walking distance of Bridport’s bustling centre. Here, dramatic golden cliffs rise above the fine shingle strand and views along Chesil Beach to Portland Island are quite spectacular.

Looking inland, numerous country walks are only a short drive from the town’s centre. Trails at Langdon Hill are awash with bluebells and foxgloves in the spring, fading to heady cow parsley and wild garlic in the autumn. It is of little wonder that the works of Thomas Hardy are steeped in these dramatic landscapes.

There is much to do in Bridport; in addition to plenty of locally stocked grocers, cafés, pubs and a post office, the town is thriving with independent antique sellers and specialist bookshops, as well as an impressive Art-Deco Cinema (Electric Palace) that is still family run. Many of these amenities are located on South Street, which is transformed twice weekly for the historic Bridport market. The Bridport Art Centre is on the doorstep, presenting a year-round programme of visual arts, theatre, dance, comedy, music, spoken word and films and screenings. There are also some brilliant restaurants and cafes, such as Soulshine, the incredible Indian restaurant Sundorbon, and pub The Woodman which hosts regular folk nights. A local Waitrose is a convenient in-town amenity.

Further afield, West Bay is home to a fantastic independent gallery and café Sladers Yard, whilst the popular hotel and restaurant, The Seaside Boarding House, is perched above the strikingly beautiful Hive beach, and has a terrace which is the perfect perch from which to watch the sunset across the sea. Popular Lyme Regis is a 20-minute drive from the apartment, with a great selection of independent shops, including Lyme Book Shop, a stellar fishmonger near the harbour, Papa Luca Vintage and Ryder and Hope. There is also a museum and a theatre for music, theatre, comedy and National Theatre Live screenings; it is also host to the Lyme Regis Film Society.

Despite these idyllic natural settings and local atmosphere, Bridport is not isolated. The A35 connects the town to Exeter and Bournemouth, both just over an hour’s drive away. Travel to London is also straightforward, with trains running directly to Waterloo in two hours and 40 minutes from nearby Dorchester South Station (a 25-minute drive from Bridport). An alternative route from Crewkerne Station can take two hours and 30 minutes. For international connections, Exeter Airport is 34 miles away.

Tenure: Share of Freehold
Underlying Lease Length: Approx. 962 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £3,300 per annum
Council Tax Band: C