Hill Road, Clevedon

'The light that floods in via the glass frontage is magical and great for passive solar gain, even in winter on a sunny day I don't need heating when others are using theirs. My home is so peaceful and secluded, with incredible views. I love that I can walk everywhere from here, being just a few minutes from the seafront and Hill Road bars. There are lovely neighbours but you hardly know they're there, with the house and garden being so private.
It's a great entertaining home and basically no one knows it's here, that's the way I like it.'

The Home

Venetian Cottage is one of Clevedon's oldest surviving homes, built in 1829 by local carpenter and builder William Andrews as part of the development of Hill Road. Originally constructed alongside the larger Venetian House, the cottage has been home to a variety of residents over nearly 200 years, including tradespeople, widows, clergy and retired professionals. It has changed hands many times, survived the rapid growth of Victorian Clevedon, and even operated as a lodging house for visitors during the late 19th century. Despite alterations in ownership and use, the cottage has remained a much-loved home, outlasting many neighbouring buildings and is still showing many brilliant moment of character throughout. Today it stands as an striking example of how Clevedon's early development and the craftsmanship of its original builder, can balance with beautiful and striking modern redevelopment.

The house is set up from Hill Road and into the hill infront of the home of Dial Hill Road and to the west of those on Park Road. The entrance is into a beautiful open-plan kitchen living area, extended to the front with as much glass as possible, so the beautiful views of Clevedon, the Bristol Channel and the Mendips can be enjoyed. The modern extension blends with the older part of the home to give a seamless flow to the house whilst also allowing a choice of living spaces. Whilst open-plan, the home has been design to allow a feeling of separation between bright spaces to entertain and enjoy, from the more cosy, cottage feel to the back of the house.

The interior design has been carefully considered throughout to make the most of how the light falls and also, the original features and character of the home. This is typified in the central reception room which currently houses a desk, vinyl player and speakers, where an original window has been kept to allow a picture card view from within. This room also has a traditional fireplace with a tiled hearth, with a more recent addition being the built in storage cupboards, which have been introduced to be innkeeping with the more traditional part of the home.

Throughout the house, colour has been cleverly used to enhance a feeling of warmth and vibrancy, whilst also delineating the different spaces available to enjoy. This contemporary use of colour adds to the uniqueness and depth of this home. The kitchen further contributes to this, with a reclaimed and stripped 'English Rose' kitchen injecting a fusion of mid-century style with the exposed wooden flooring and traditional dressers and shelving into the alcoves in both the kitchen and either side of the central fireplace. To the back of the house a snug living space and sewing room are beautifully tucked away, with exposed brick to the back of the house and a woodburner for the cold winter evenings.

Upstairs, there are three double bedrooms, the front two offering far-reaching views down the Bristol Channel through their traditional sash windows. To the back of the house is a spacious bathroom with a free-standing, claw footed bath along with an extra bedroom, ideal for guests set on its own half landing.

The Outside

This house has a great selection of outdoor areas to enjoy, from the decked area immediately adjacent to the living space, to the larger garden area to the rear, set above the house itself. Almost all of the garden benefits from openness to the south-westerly aspect, and the views that come with it, whilst careful curation has also brought options for shade and raincover, so the garden can be enjoyed in all weathers. The garden has intentionally been kept with biodiversity at heart, with a small pond and lots of established fruit trees and flowering shrubs. To the back there is an outdoor deck, ideal for summer meals, but a brilliant covered area, with built-in seating to retreat to when the temperature drops, or you see the rain coming down the channel.

Living in Clevedon

From much of this home you have joy of seeing much of the surrounding town to which this home sits at the heart. Sweeping sea views, rolling hills and the quiet town are all visible from the house and can be closer enjoyed just beyond the doorstep. Just minutes from the seafront, the home has easy access to the Clevedon Coastal Path which connects the town with Portishead, and includes the peaceful spots of Ladye Bay, Margaret's Bay, and Walton Bay.

A few minutes walk, you'll find Hill Road and Alexandra Road, both of which offer a choice of caf's, restaurants, independent clothes shops, book shops and art galleries. Fawn Coffee Shop is a lovely spot to grab your morning flat white, whilst Escala tapas bar and Murrays neighbourhood restaurant are highly regarded and bring a local challenge to the flourishing food scene of nearby Bristol. Local Micropub, The Fallen Tree, is also a massive favourite of Clevedon residents and recently won CAMRA's Pub of the Year for the Bristol District.

Clevedon has a real abundance of green space and pleasant walks, including Alexandra Park, Sunhill Park, Herbert Gardens and Dial Hill which are all minutes away, with woodland walks around Court Woods and Nortons Woods also nearby. You can also join the Poet's Walk path which offers views out across the Bristol Channel and beautifully highlights the area's natural beauty.

Whilst Clevedon is well-positioned for those wanting to commute to Bristol, Cardiff, or London, it has evolved into a thriving, nature-loving and artistic town in its own right. Full of character and community, it's a dynamic seaside town with a rich history, picturesque surroundings, and a vibrant independent scene.