Chaucer Road, Poets Corner – new instruction

A beautifully presented and tastefully decorated four bedroom three storey Edwardian semi detached family home, situated on the highly sought-after upper slopes of Poet’s Corner. Located at the southern end of Chaucer Road. Full brochure, floorplans and photos to follow tomorrow but viewings available immediately.

The property is entered via a panelled front door into the entrance vestibule (with high level meters) with inner door to the hallway. From here, all the main reception rooms are accessed and there is a staircase to the first floor, under which is a small understairs cupboard.

The sitting room (to the front) is a charming room with a stunning working traditional fireplace, surrounded by a tall oak mantelpiece incorporating a mirror, and a splay bay window with sashes.
The intimate and stylish dining room is a central room and this, too, boasts an attractive traditional fireplace with oak surround flanked either side by alcoves. There is a feature stained glass window into the kitchen and double part-glazed doors to the breakfast area.

The kitchen/breakfast room is a wonderful asset to the house having been extended both ways to make it an exceptional living area. The dining area features a hardwood oak floor and a square bay window with a door giving access to the garden, and this area has been designed to accommodate a family sized breakfast table. A unique and particularly interesting characteristic is the curved wall, behind which is a modern shower room. This incorporates a WC with concealed flush, a pedestal hand basin and shower with concertina glass door and power shower. Next to this is a utility cupboard with plumbing for a washing machine, shelving, a water softener and wiring to allow for a TV in the dining area. The kitchen comprises a range of modern, maple coloured wall and floor cupboards beneath dark laminate work surfaces. There is a pull-out larder drawer, discreet spotlighting, integral double oven and 5 ring gas hob and several attractive roof lights to allow plenty of natural light into the room. There is a stunning travertine floor, whilst a back door opens into the garden.

The first floor enjoys two double bedrooms and one single (to the rear). The master (to the front) occupys the full width of the house and has a splay bay and separate sash window, whilst the middle bedroom has a sash window to the rear. The family bathroom is fitted with a white suite with modern power shower over the bath, concealed taps and stone wall and floor tiles. The second floor attic bedroom is a wonderful addition to the house, and this has been sympathetically converted to maximise on space and light, with three velux windows and plenty of accessible under eaves storage and attic space (boarded and with light).

OUTSIDE
The raised front garden has steps and a path to the front door with small lawn to the side and a selection of mature shrubs. The rear garden enjoys a mainly stone wall boundary and features attractive wall lights designed to enhance the ambience for al fresco eating, with the useful addition of built-in wooden seating to each side of the patio. There is a raised lawn and beyond this a further area of decking designed to make the most of the evening sun. At the top of the garden is a timber shed and rear pedestrian gate leading on to a grassy lane (a private shared space that is gated and allows rear access). In addition, a security light has been installed and electrical points are located both on the patio and decked area.

SITUATION
Chaucer Road is a particularly desirable location, forming part of the very popular Poet’s Corner, just above the Bear Flat on the south side of Bath. An excellent array of shops such as a delicatessen, chemist, greengrocers, hairdressers and mini market are within easy walking distance, whilst the City Centre and main line railway station are a pleasant downhill stroll away. Good local schools can be found all around the area, and Alexandra Park, with its fabulous views across Bath, is a short walk away to the east.

Views of Bath

Taken from Smallcombe Fields off Bathwick Hill, looking over Sydney Buildings and Widcombe to the rear of Alice Park/Bear Flat

Bath city centre, with the triumvirate of the Abbey, St John’s Church on South Parade and the Empire

Spring newsletter content

Extracts below from our Spring newsletter, focussing on the Bear Flat area of Bath.

Poets Corner, Bear Flat, Bath

Kipling Avenue Trees

 The trees in Kipling Avenue were the focus of controversy in 1909.  At a meeting of the Pleasure Grounds Committee on 8 March, the residents presented a petition calling for trees to be planted, pointing out that Shakespeare Avenue had already been planted up at a cost of £25.  A Mr Maule objected, saying that ‘it’s time this expenditure was stopped’.  Councillor Thomas objected that the builders had ‘christened the estates avenues and expected the Corporation to make them so’.  Councillor Jackman said he thought that the builders or residents should plant them.  The committee decided against planting the trees.

 On 18 March, a letter appeared in the Chronicle from a Mr T Anstey condemning the decision, and calling on the council to ‘emulate Ealing, the “Garden Suburb”.  I remember Pulteney Street before the trees were planted,’ he went on. ‘How much more beautiful it is now, even though the trees might have been better selected.  I also remember the plane tree planted in Abbey Green by Mr J B Yates.  What about a row of trees in dreary London Road from Grosvenor to Walcot and some in Wellsway?’

 The issue was raised again at the next meeting of the Pleasure Grounds Committee in early April, where it was pointed out that three out of four avenues in Poet’s Corner had already been planted with trees at a cost of £55 and it was unfair to leave out Kipling Avenue.  It was eventually decided to proceed with planting ‘when practicable’.                 

(Extracts from ‘The Year of the Pageant’ Elliot & Swift).

Do you know your Poet?

With 7 local roads built by a family of devoutly religious builders, Bath’s Poets Corner is a homage to Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey – all of the poets named in the Bath estate are either buried there or have a memorial plaque in place.

 Percy Bysshe Shelley

 Born in Broadbridge Heath, near Horsham in West Sussex and the eldest of seven children, Shelley’s father was a Whig Member of Parliament. Educated at Eton College and University College (Oxford) Shelley was expelled from Oxford in 1811 after publishing a pamphlet on “The Necessity of Atheism”. Four months after his expulsion (and at the age of nineteen) Shelley eloped to Scotland to marry Harriet Westbrook – a marriage that lasted only three years, producing a daughter, before Shelley ran off with the daughter of William Godwin (the first modern proponent of anarchism). By 1816 Shelley and Mary Godwin were living on the shores of Lake Geneva, next door to Lord Byron. The next stop for the now married Shelleys was Marlow in Buckinghamshire, where he became friends with John Keats, but continued involvement with Lord Byron led to sojourns in various Italian cities from 1818 to 1822. On 8^th July 1822, less than a month from his 30^th birthday, Shelley drowned in a sudden storm on the Adriatic. Cremated on the beach near Viareggio, Shelley’s heart was saved from the flames and eventually buried with his son. His ashes were interred under the Pyramid of Cestius in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome, although he is memorialised in Westminster Abbey next to his friends Byron and Keats.

St David’s Day is the feast day of St David, the patron saint of Wales, and falls on 1 March each year. This date was chosen in remembrance of the death of St David on that day in 589, and has been celebrated since then.  The date was declared a national day of celebration within Wales in the 18^th century.   Many people wear one or both of the national emblems of Wales on their lapel to celebrate: the daffodil  (a generic Welsh symbol, which is in season in March) or the leek (St David’s personal symbol) on this day. Public celebrations are commonplace.  In many towns an annual parade is held through the town centre. Concerts are held in pubs, clubs and other venues.  Children take part in school concerts or eisteddfodau, with recitation and singing being the main activities. The traditional Welsh costume of a long woollen skirt, woollen shawl, white blouse and Welsh hat may also be worn.

For more info on Madison Oakley or contact details for our directors, do visit our website.

Views from Alexandra Park Dec 8th 2010

Alexandra Park was named in honour of Queen Alexandra and opened in 1902 to commemorate the Coronation of Edward VII. We have posted five more photos from this location into an album on our Facebook page (search for Madison Oakley Estate Agents or use the link in the sidebar)

For more information on Madison Oakley or contact details for our directors, do visit our website.

November newsletter content

Bath city centre

 

 

Edwardian Pargeting…

 

 

 

Pargeting is a 17th Century technique of decorating plasterwork with incised lines and embossed patterns.

 

 

Pargeting can often be seen decorating gables on Edwardian houses.The Edwardians were fond of external decoration on their houses, plain red brickwork was adorned with flourishes such as painted wooden balconies and verandas. Narrow Victorian front doors were replaced by imposing panelled and glazed doors, often sheltered by a canopy of turned spindles and fretwork or by an elaborate porch, set against the red brick walls, the white-painted woodwork of these porches appeared freshly welcoming. Decorative plaster and terracotta panels were also frequently set into the brickwork to enliven a house’s exterior.

 

 

 

Partners: Carey Gilliland & Willum Long

 

 

 

Do you know your Poet?

 

 

 

With 7 local roads built by a family of devoutly religious builders, Bath’s Poets Corner is an homage to Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey – all of the poets named in the Bath estate are either buried there or have a memorial plaque in place.

 

 

 

Geoffrey Chaucer

 

 

 

Born 1343 into a family of London vintners, died in 1400 and most famous locally for the Wife of Bath’s Tale within his unfinished narrative The Canterbury Tales. Captured in 1360 by the French at the siege of Rheims during the Hundred Years War, Edward III paid Chaucer’s ransom to be released. After years of travelling to Spain and Italy, Chaucer became MP for Kent in 1386, Comptroller of the Customs for the port of London in 1374 and Clerk of the King’s Works in 1389. His last recorded royal employment came as deputy forester of the Royal Forest of North Petherton in Somerset from 1391. For the last year of his life, Chaucer took on a lease for a residence within the close of Westminster Abbey, hence his burial within the Abbey a year later. In 1556, his remains were transferred to a more ornate tomb within the Abbey, making Chaucer the first writer interred in the area now known as Poets’ Corner. Chaucer’s eldest son Tom became Speaker of the House of Commons.

 

 

 

 

Confusion reigns in house price sector…..

 

 

 

September saw the Halifax report a 3.6% drop, Nationwide said 0.1% increase, HM Land Registry showed a 0.3% increase. Rightmove’s October index shows a 3.1% increase in asking prices, so, where’s the grain of truth in the sands of obfuscation? Both Halifax and Nationwide agree that the quarter on quarter comparison (usually more accurate than monthly figures) shows a 0.9% drop in September but neither survey takes account of cash purchases. Land Registry figures are always several months out of date whilst asking price surveys are an exercise in futility at the best of times. We think prices have fallen a little over the summer but quality property, priced correctly, is still selling quickly. Let’s see what impact the October Spending Review has on consumer confidence.

 

 

 

 

 Madison Oakley are an independent estate agent and letting agent in Bath. We are a small director led firm with over 50 years combined local experience.To find out more about us, do visit our website. We would always be delighted to receive comments via our blog or do feel free to call us on 01225 466525.