I can safely say where I have been today, as no one will ever guess, other than my Client where it is. The house that I saw was a delightful Georgian style property, probably built somewhere between 1840 and 1869 (there is a date plaque on the stables) It is very unlikely that it could have been built any earlier, because there was no way of getting ‘Welsh slate’ from Wales (and you don’t get such slate from anywhere else!), until the invention of steam, and the roof is so covered with the original slate. But, and there’s always a ‘but’, this house had a small extension, actually it had two, but only in one, in which the window of bedroom three has an ashlar (bath stone) mullioned surround to it. So, this very small part of the house may have been built at an earlier date, at which time it's roof would, of course ,have been covered with clay pan tiles. Who knows? The main house is large and attractive and has been well improved; a credit to the vendor. There is a detached cottage that suffers from a bit of damp, but was largely in good condition. In addition there are stables full of ‘boy’s toys’ and a separate pig sty that needs some attention, but not much. It is all set in about three acres of level park like grounds. A was a pleasure to be at ‘Innocks’ today…   more »

My sources tell me that, JL, a man from Newcastle and editor of the then Bristol Mercury, was also a compiler of the Annals of Bristol for the 16th to 19th centuries. Anyway, according to him, and who are we to argue, the Sydenham Trust owned a lot of land in Cotham, and as a consequence had some roads named after them, and that’s where I found myself today. I was looking at a very large end of terraced house, large enough without being extended, but it had been extended, so it was a very large house, and, largely in good condition for it’s age. There are always things not quite right and this house was no exception, but on the whole, not bad at all. The only sour point was the grapes, so I shouldn't have pinched one off the vine, even though they say stolen fruit is sweetest of all...   more »

I think that ‘we’ can safely assume that the church owned the land here on which these houses were built; otherwise there seems little point naming the road after them. The houses were built in the 1800’s, late, when mining was well underway. Pubs are often named after such things, The Pit Pony, The Miners, The Hen & Chicken (named after coal seems). Then, of course along came the Luftwaffe and’ Bemmy’ took another battering, this time from above. So, the area, if not the house has quite an history, but it has taken it all in it’s stride and more recently the roof space here has been converted, so what was originally a modest two or three bedroomed house has grown, a bit like Topsey, but, all was generally well…   more »

I have just seen a purpose built flat in one of my favourite developments just across the Suspension Bridge. It was a first floor flat in a seemingly well run block. It was all up together and in good condition. It is in a quite area, for the time being, until the National Trust start herding in the cattle that they have announced will graze the woods…   more »

They say that if you can see the Malvern Hills, then it’s about to rain, and if you can’t, then it is raining! Well, I could see the Hills and it was not raining, but the half timbered farmhouse that I saw today was a bit ‘gloomy’. It was not falling down, but it is in need of fairly extensive upgrading and re-modelling. One of the chimneys had a good lean to it. It was built that way, “…because, that’s how we build ‘em round ‘ere…” Oh yes! The other was an inglenook, but each can stay as they are. The roofs were all in reasonable condition, but I could not see the original rafters, much as I would have liked as they were in-accessible. Replacement windows were, I suppose ok. The main walls are thin because they are timber framed, but at some stage the base of the original had been taken out and it had been re-built with a slate damp proof course. The house had been extended, probably in the 1970’s, or a bit later and that area was in reasonable condition. It comes with numerous outbuildings, so, if it rains and the rain gets in, my Client can shelter in any one of them…   more »

As soon as I arrived today I was welcomed with a question – “Would I like a cup of tea, coffee or something?” What a pleasant change from yesterday. Today I saw a completely different style of house, a mid1930’s house with an early 2000’s extension that had been built for the present vendor. I am pleased to say that I found each in good condition. There is no reason why my Client should not proceed with the purchase. The road, however, in reality a cul de sac was very congested with cars and vans and a small lorry. I just hope that it is not always like that; otherwise it might just spoil that pleasant area…   more »

I met Mr and Mrs Miserable Vendor today. I spent most of the day at the house, but was there a ‘whiff’ of coffee, an offer of a glass of water, not even a suggestion that I drink out of the swimming pool! Thank God I am seeing a mate of mine tonight, so we’ll drink a toast the miserable people! Anyway, I know that my Clients are happy people and they have found an exceedingly old house that has been modernised over the years, although not a lot has been carried out recently. Parts of it are very old; I think that there may have been two previous roofs over one part, three including the existing covering. It has as a ‘whole’ been ‘squared up, but looking at it from a small hillock, and with the church in ‘the picture’, it almost looked medieval, and in some respects I suppose that it is! The ceilings are all over the place, the upper floors ‘wobble’ and the walls and partitions seem to go everywhere except vertically! There’s death watch beetle, not seemingly active and woodworm, seemingly very active, and of course some damp. The flag stones are cracked all over the place, but hey! - what do you expect in a house that old? My clients will take all of this in their stride and love the house! Anyway, now I’m off to meet me mate and have a beer, and drink a toast to all vendors!!!   more »

That just does not ring true and that’s right! Herbert was the family name of the Earl of Carnarvon, and as many roads in the area were named after the ‘nobility’, this was one of them. (The fifth earl worked with Howard Carter, of Tutankhamen fame, helping with his excavation. He died in Cairo in 1923, some forty or so years after these houses were built.) There was no sarcophagus’ here, and as far as I could see no real problems. Like Tutankhamen’s tomb, this was a well built house, but, unlike Tutankhamen’s tomb, this house was all a bit ‘stark’, though no doubt my Client has their own ideas for it’s re-modelling and improvement, maybe a pyramid or two; that would liven up Redland…   more »

The developers of the adjacent block of flats did not shore up the land they were excavating and a shoe shop fell into the hole – not a pretty sight! The flat that I saw today, fortunately was bigger than most shoe boxes, which is just as well. A very contemporary pent house apartment, actually a 'semi-detached' penthouse, but nevertheless a smart apartment right in the centre of the 'village', and opposite the later block. What Henry Williams (see below) would have thought of it I just don't know (and I don't really care), but my Client likes it, I liked it and to boot it has four secure parking spaces and two equally secure roof gardens. The actual roof was like a mossy moor, but a bit dried up until the rains came, but it was designed in this style. It is a very pleasant living space, all largely in good condition, but with no swans and no hills to worry about...   more »

I don't know where Manilla Hall once stood, but according to my sources it was an elegant family mansion, and this road was named after it. All probably something to do with fighting in the Philippines in 1782. However the road was described by one, Henry Williams, an architect in 1888 as outrageously ugly and a local architectural historian went on to say that these houses that I saw today were just that on this side of the street! Houses swamped with 'un-Bristolian' terra cotta, and to a point he is absolutely correct, but I quite liked this 'ugly facarde'. I don't know who was the builder, but rumour has it that when he constructed the rank, he kept the centre house for himself, and built an extra floor to boot! My Client is buying the upper maisonette, three bedrooms and a roof garden, in the centre house, that was quite possibly converted in the 1930's, judging solely by the 'internal' letter boxes! It is all in need of a bit of tlc, a bit of a blow through to re-generate it and probably total redecoration. Rooms will be moved around, not literally of course, but the living room will become the bedroom and things like that! So, all in all an interesting day out in an outrageously street...   more »

Glebe lands were at the time given to the clergy for additional income, but what they derived from it I have no idea! Probably very little or nothing, which is why the land was then sold off for houses. The house that saw today was built, allegedly in 1912 and that’s precise, but it had a two storey extension, although no one seems to know when that was constructed! It was all a little ‘eccentric’, and for some inexplicable reason there were plain crested ridge tiles on the rear hip – curious. The main ridge was formed with ‘roll top’ and plain angled ridge tiles, perhaps to make it look different! The main roof had dropped, but that was historic and not due to the ridge tiles, and the porch roof was invisible (totally covered with wisteria). The extension had a flat roof that was ok! It was ‘cottagey’ property in a large garden, where I found a solitary palm tree growing merrily in the rear garden, and at the end of the day I almost thought that I was In Egypt…   more »

Today I visited an extended semi-detached house, so much extended that with the extension of the neighbouring house, they had become centre terraced properties. Originally built in the 1960’s, I think, the house that I saw today was largely in good condition and free from major defect, which bodes well for my Client, and I suppose for the vendor. Not much else to say, but it was large, with five bedrooms and two/three reception rooms and a fairly large garden. There was a garage, but this sort of got swallowed up in one of the extensions and is now relegated to a store!!!   more »

Keeping with the ‘regal connection’, I have just seen a house named “Leighton”; it was vacant. The only Leighton that I know, not personally of course is/was Frederic, Baron Leighton of Stretton (1830 – 1896), a painter and President of the Royal Academy, so I wondered if the house had been named after him, a bit like Windsor Terrace, (see above), but I can't think why! Anyway, this was the third house that I had seen for my Client, who through no fault of theirs, the last house had fallen through. The house was, in my opinion, a more attractive dwelling and as it was in good condition, needing only modest modernisation and improvement, I really hope that my Client can proceed. It was clean and innocuously painted, so the academicians can keep their day jobs, painting portraits, landscapes and whatever; they won’t be needed here for a while…   more »

There’s no such terrace in Clifton, but this rank of houses were begun in 1868 and completed in 1881, the year of a Royal visit by the said Albert, son of Queen Victoria. He was born in Windsor Castle on 6th August 1844, so this row of homes was named Windsor Terrace, due to the ‘royal’ connection. And that is where I have been all day as I had to advise on a ‘rolling’ maintenance program and give advice as how best to go about it. It’s a large property divided into four units, all in a five floored building. It is a bit ‘sad and neglected’ – the wrong word – tired, because until now no one has taken much interest in it; there are ‘absentee landlords’, but give it a couple of years and it will have a right royal look about it…   more »

What a pleasant change to be greeted by a bright red door as opposed the usual, boring green front door that many people seem to favour. I thought that green was supposed to be unlucky, unless, of course you are Irish. Today the road I was in was probably named after Horfield Court farm that was bought ‘the Government’ in 1843. It was knocked down to build Horfield barracks on the land, that were themselves knocked down in the 1960’s Fortunately the house that I saw was still standing and, in fairness it has stood the test of time well. It was largely in good condition and free from major defect. The Bath stone had been cleaned and it was looking good. I think I’ll give it a red star…   more »

Why I wondered was the first floor flat that I saw today given one address and the accessed from the adjoining house? Anyway it was, so I had to be amazed for entirely different reasons, for the second time in two days! Here, however, I was able to get onto the roof, which always pleases me; I’m very easy to please. The roof was sound; the building was sound and even though ‘war’ glass was still evident in one of the sashes, there was no evidence of any serious or on going movement – good. Again, however, there are numerous flats in the ‘other half’ of the house, but here I suspect general maintenance will be easier. Why, I don’t know, just an opinion that these fats are ‘professionally’ let, and not by absentee landlords. Elms, sadly no more, were probably a feature of this road, in which the flat is situated, a very large flat, benefitting from an allocated parking space and a garden, so Sainsbury’s at the end of the road and Domino’s Pizza will be surplus to requirements…   more »

I was amazed at the size of this maisonette that I saw today in Clifton. As usual with many Clifton properties, this substantial semi-detached house had been divided into self contained flats, well two flats and the said maisonette. Frankly most aspects of it were sound, but, again as with many Clifton properties, the flats here had been let out so there are absentee landlords which can make life difficult to get repairs undertaken when they become necessary. Hopefully, here there will be nothing required in the short term, so my Client can contemplate re-organising the entrance to this property and then amaze all his visitors…   more »

They might not sell in Spain, but what does sell in Spain at the moment? I know, because I have just spent my annual six and a half days leave there. The fires that I saw earlier in the year have not stopped the vegetation from growing again and in six weeks, just six weeks there are more green shoots than there are in the British economy. Rbt Hitchin does sell homes in the UK and the nine year old house that I saw in Stoke Bishop was seemingly well built (just like his Spanish houses), there being no glaring defects. Some ‘silly’ anomalies, but you can’t have everything in life, although, at least the sun was shinning…   more »