GLORIOUS VIEWS GALORE AT MOUNT LAVINIA

By Judy Marriott - Friday, March 14, 2008

Mount Lavinia, viewed from Undercliff Drive, St Lawrence. Picture by Jennifer Burton.

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK
HAVING glorious views over your leafy garden to a wide expanse of sea is appealing enough but attractive Mount Lavinia scores top marks for being able to enjoy them to the full.
The substantial 1920s house, in the romantic setting of The Undercliff, at St Lawrence, is arranged so all the major rooms have a magnificent southerly outlook to the English Channel.
Whether you are working in the kitchen, eating in the adjoining dining area or the formal dining room, or relaxing in the conservatory, you are treated to this inspirational sea view.
On top of this, all four upstairs bedrooms are bright doubles, with a sea outlook and access to a lofty balcony, running right across the rear of the house and with plenty of space for tables and chairs.
The views from here are spectacular, taking in the lush terraced gardens, with tall trees, dramatic-looking echiums and a panoramic swathe of sunlit sea.
Along with the views and airy, plentiful accommodation the huge garden, which flourishes in the mild climate, is a big plus point at detached Mount Lavinia.
In all, it covers around two and-a-quarter acres, extending back from a 250ft frontage to Undercliff Drive, down through a number of lawned levels, with stone walls, steps and many attractive trees, shrubs and flowers, to a large flatter area, with a store/work area.
On the way are some delightful features, including a walk-through pergola and a pond fed by a tinkling lion’s head water feature in a natural rocky outcrop.
There are several inviting seating areas — including a sheltered gravelled spot beneath the rocky outcrop — to pause at while wandering through this peaceful garden.
Down at the bottom is gated access to a track leading to footpaths which take you down to the beach at Binnel Bay.
Needless to say, the owners of nine and-a-half years, Barry and Ann Thwaites, describe life at Mount Lavinia — named after a peak in Sri Lanka — as “absolutely wonderful”.
In an area of outstanding natural beauty, the property has been extended over the years and the couple have refurbished it, opening up the kitchen to the dining area and installing new bathrooms.
As well as plenty of parking, there is a double garage with a remote-controlled door, power and lighting, plus storage space over.
Entry to the property is through a side door to a small hallway, with wooden flooring, a large front window looking out to the striking cliffs of The Undercliff and a door to a utility room.
Even this room has a sea view and it houses a new oil-fired central heating boiler, a water softener, plumbing for a washing machine and two sinks.
From the utility room is a door to an inner passageway, with a door to a patio in the back garden and a WC off.
At the end of the small entry hallway is the 23ft by 10ft kitchen/dining area, with wooden flooring and full-width glazing providing stunning sea and garden views and incorporating a door from the dining area, to the rear patio.
In the kitchen area, which has front cliff views, is a range of units, a range cooker and plumbing for a dishwasher, with matching units and an integrated fridge in the dining area.
An inner hall, with part wood-panelled walls, has stairs to the first floor and doors to rooms, including a front-aspect study, with built-in bookshelves to one wall.
The lounge is a comfortable 19ft by 15ft wood-floored room, with a brick fireplace housing a woodburner and sea views through glazed doors opening to the conservatory.
Next door is the 25ft by 12ft dining room, a wonderful space for formal dinner parties, which looks out over the lovely gardens to the sea, through windows in a rear sitting area.
This room also has access to the tile-floored conservatory.
From the upstairs landing, lit by two front windows, is access to roof space, which is fully insulated and floored with electric lighting.
On this floor is a separate WC, a bathroom with fully-tiled walls, the master bedroom suite and three more bedrooms.
The master bedroom suite includes a front-aspect dressing area, an inner dressing area with rails and shelves to each side, a good-size bathroom with tiled walls and a bright bedroom with a window and door to the balcony.
From the other three bedrooms, two of them with a wash basin and one with fitted wardrobes, are doors to the balcony.
Adjoining the house at the rear is a sunny patio, which can be reached from a spiral staircase leading down from the balcony, as well as from downstairs rooms.
It is a relaxing place to admire the view, watch the rich variety of birds and wildlife visiting the garden and be lulled by the soothing sound of the water feature.
Outbuildings include a potting shed and log store.

HOMEFILE
Location...St Lawrence
Bedrooms...Four/five
Price...£565,000
Agent...Webb and Jenkins
Tel...856111

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GLORIOUS VIEWS GALORE AT MOUNT LAVINIA

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