I suppose she could have been Mary or Emily, Caroline or Theresa. It certainly wasn't Miranda because she's busy fiddling around in the garden at Badminton, and anyway she's MUCH too young!. I suspect if truth be known it was Elizabeth the then Duchess, wife of the Duke of Beaufort who had roads in Bristol named after him; it's the sort of thing that happens when you're landed gentry though today I was in a road probably named after his wife, The Duchess. I was looking at an interesting mid-terraced house built on four floors close the railway tunnel. The upper floors weren't in bad condition and the roof was probably best condition of all and is protecting a protected tenant who seems relatively happy. The basement is going to need some money to be spent on it and I was half expecting to find a Dr Livingstone coming out of the jungle when I hacked my way through it but I didn't. All I got was a whiff of diesel fumes as a train trundled past and that wouldn't have pleased the Duchess, whatever name…   more »

I had thought I been here recently but actually of course it was the house next door. I was greeted by a charming gentleman who had done everything that was possible to get me where I wanted when I wanted and of course that makes a good start to the day, despite the rain. He'd been in the flat for a number of years and was moving to a retirement village in South Somerset, where he advised me that there was a dementia unit, which he thought he might find quite useful!!! The house had been improved, and it was pleasing to find that the Management Company had a new clay tiled roof introduced a couple or so years ago. The chimney stacks had in the main been rebuilt and the gutters replaced but, the downpipes were metal and were rusting. Main walls show little by way of any significant settlement or movement despite bombs dropping fairly close by during enemy action of the last war. The flat itself will require some updating and modernisation but, my Client has a good basis on which to start work…   more »

Today I was in another South Gloucestershire village looking at the house going way back in time to the early part of the 17th century; the date plaque said 1628. It had been occupied for many years by a tenant farmer and farmers have definite rights when it comes to the land. This farmer however had managed to buy his house from the landed gentry, who no doubt owned the land originally, I believe a rather large ship building family, but that's by the by. Despite its age the house was in reasonable condition. It is not about to fall down but fairly significant and substantial repairs are required. The chimney stacks need little attention and the roofs require a modest overhaul. Main walls show no signs of any significant settlement or movement and the rendering is in fairly good condition though in some areas it requires attention. Most of the external timber work was replaced with hardwood and it has stood the test of time well. However, with houses of such age woodworm and deathwatch beetle take their toll and it is here that repairs to the roof could be expensive, because frequently one opens up more work than one was envisaging. It is going to be very important for my Client to obtain as many estimates, realistic estimates from competent building contractors before he exchanges contracts, and that way he to can be streets ahead…   more »

Today I was due to look at a fairly modern house in Abbots Leigh. On Wednesday the government cutbacks were announced and on Thursday my Client telephoned to say that as he was in the construction industry, he was most concerned about the government cutbacks and that he was not going to proceed with his purchase. I thought about this for a moment and then realised that I had lost the job, my typing outsource manager had lost the job, his typist had lost the job and my secretary had lost the job. So that was four people, then there was a solicitor and the estate agent and of course the government don't get the tax. Now multiply that by as much as you want, because, I'm sure it's just not me, it's everybody who has to suffer…   more »

Today I was looking at a substantial semi-detached house in a pleasant road on which at one time I believe there might have been a farm and certainly of course in the 1850s all of this area of Bristol, between Redland and Bishopston would all be farmed and no doubt there would be Hawthorn hedges and hazel trees growing in the boundaries dividing the fields. Bees would be buzzing around, yellowhammers would still be there unless they had by then found their way to Clifton Wood and of course cattle would have been grazing, sheep would have been staring into space and pigs would no doubt have been wallowing in mud but that was then and not now. The house had been clearly occupied by an elderly person but it wasn't in bad condition and there is no reason why my Client should not seriously consider continuing with their purchase providing they obtain as many estimates for the modernisation as is possible. It had a new roof but unfortunately Roger, the roofer left the existing zinc in situ and merely covered it with new concrete tiles; I suspect Roger had straw in his hair…   more »

I didn't see any butterflies at the house I was at today, a charming little cottage in a small village just outside Thornbury. It was not large, thankfully because it needs a lot doing to it. Structurally it was in reasonably good condition but, one of the roofs will need replacing, one of the walls is likely to need re-rendering over a period of time, but the windows were in fairly good condition. Internally the house is going to need rewiring and probably a new heating system. It will need a new kitchen and a new bathroom and its will certainly need redecoration. The drains need a new gulley because the gully is cracked; this is a pleasant cottage and from talking to my Clients they won't get the butterflies about the work they are about to take on – good…   more »

I suspect that yellowhammers and other birds were interested in living in this neck of the woods after Thomas Goldney set out the grounds of his garden for his house which of course was named after him and was set on the slopes of Clifton Wood. I have been here before in the recent past and the house I saw today was little different than those I saw on previous occasions. It is built on three floors, a basement or lower ground floor, a ground floor at street level and a first floor level. The house was in need of some modernisation and there was a distinct odour of drainage permeating throughout the house, probably because the one way valve had jammed in the open position, as one way valve’s have a habit of doing. Never mind this can be rectified and with a little bit of luck and careful planning there can be a shower room/WC combined at first floor level. This is an interesting property in a reasonably quiet location, but I didn't see the famed yellowhammer…   more »

Today I have been to see two fairly modern houses, each within half a mile or so of each other. The first was a modern terraced property built on a development constructed by Span, who won a civic award for their troubles. It was in part of Sneyd Park when, originally there was a divide between the city and the countryside, whereby villagers pitched over the fence their produce to the town people who threw back their money in payment because of the plague; no one wanted to get near and who can blame them. Later on I was looking at a small development built by a local Bristol company, now sadly no longer trading, who built interesting houses and this was no exception. The vendors had made every effort at modernising the house and there was little to do to it but, interestingly the exterior of most of the houses remain as they were built, so no new plastic windows, no new laminates, no new rainwater goods, but why make changes if it ain't broke…   more »

No such luck! I was due to go away this weekend not to the Hamptons, but to Upton upon Severn but my Client who phoned me on Friday afternoon was desperate for a report on a property that was to go to auction next Wednesday. I was able to arrange a viewing and managed to sort out my report so that my Client will know what they are bidding for at the auction. My mother, who happens to be 98 and lives alone, was very understanding, remarkably understanding, she never ceases to amaze me. "Do you really think I'm cross that you couldn't get here; I'm delighted you're busy!”, and then chortled away to herself and to me. Still there is next weekend…   more »

Today I had to look at to properties each of which were completely different. Initially I was in Chew Magna to see a pavement edged cottage right in the heart of the village. The vendor was a marble man, so the floors were a real delight particularly in the kitchen and dining area where the largest limestone tiles I have ever seen were set into the floor. They even had fossils in them! The house was built on three floors, but I don't think I would have liked sleeping in the basement because access to it was down very narrow spiral stairs. The lawyers are going to have a field day; there are flying freeholds at different parts of the house so they are in effect three parties affected…

Later on I went towards Chew Stoke which a few years ago had a strong write-up about the village in one of the Weekend Magazines. It didn't discuss this particular road where a number of houses were built for the local authority, but because they were built for the local authority they were sound and in good condition. My Client will need to roll up his sleeves and get to work modernising the house and when he is finished you can then enjoy the garden which runs down to the River Chew; thank God it's not like the Mississippi; that would have been interesting…   more »

come as no surprise that it is known as The Old Vicarage. My clients are moving from abroad and the vendor is moving to Newbury where no doubt for the money they receive for this house, they will be purchasing something significantly smaller in Newbury and without anything like five acres of land. The vendors had been in occupation for about five years and building a magnificent extension between the house and a detached coach house, in modern day parlance a double garage with a small flat above it. The whole building is now connected and they have maintained it and improved it to the extent that there is little work that needs to be done to it. Main walls will require some re-pointing, but this can be completed over a period of time. I hope that my Clients will be happy so that they do not have to return abroad…   more »

No sorry, Agate, Pearl, Ruby and Garnet are all semiprecious stones and of course, coal is not particularly precious at all, although it was in the 17th century when most of southern Bristol was mined. The Hen and Chicken public house on North Street refers back to the ‘Hen’ vein and the ‘Chick’ vein, coal seams that were mined many hundreds of feet beneath these roads which is where I was today looking at a small two bedroomed terraced house that was in reasonable condition. It was I felt slightly overpriced and I will give my Client chapter and verse as to how I have I come about my valuation, but suffice it to say the Land Registry House Price Indices ain’t far wrong…   more »

At this time of year rosehips are bright and red as are the Rowan berries, but there was nothing red about the flat I saw here today in Downend. I was accosted by someone, who I thought was an interfering tradesmen, but it turns out was an interfering neighbour! I have no problem with anybody asking what I am doing and of course, I keep cards with me to show who I am, but this neighbour really was, a bit well, annoying. He of course knew everything, which probably didn't go down too well, because I think I know everything and of course I don't but I do know where north, south, east and west are, because if nothing else I have a compass. Anyway the flat I saw today was a little overpriced I felt particularly as the electrical circuitry was at least 30 and maybe even 40 years old; it was all original. The flat needed renovation but I was not expecting the electrical wiring needing renewing as well…   more »

So I wonder why this road was named after him in Easton. Today I have seen what I thought initially was a fairly highly priced house in this road, where the Luftwaffe did their best to destroy quite a lot of it, giving it so to speak a good caning, but of course they didn't succeed. My Client is purchasing a house that has recently been renovated and I'm pleased to advise him that I found it largely in good condition and free from major defects. A lot of money has been spent on the house which is in a reasonably quiet street. Why the street was named after Mr Chaplin I am uncertain but there we go, something for my Client to look into…   more »

Later on I went back to the woods to a little coppice just off Coombe Lane. I've been there before, just five days before, because I had been advised that the chimney stack and parapet wall were in need of attention because the roof was leaking, much to the chagrin of the Vendor, who had had the property renovated to the nth degree. A few days later, I was there to look at the whole property, but did not think that the EU repairs to the chimney stack were as good as they could have been although I was quite happy with the repairs to the parapet wall that was leaking. The house was largely in good condition, it had been extended this way and that but not the other and it was in very good condition but, it is a high price to pay even though it's in Bristol 9…   more »

“Oh! The Dentwood Stage is a-rollin' on over the plains,
With the curtains flappin' and the driver slappin' the reins.
Beautiful sky! A wonderful day!
Whip crack-away!, Whip crack-away!, Whip crack-away!” …

Was exactly how I was hoping to feel to day when I arrived at this semi-detached house tucked away in a cul-de-sac. In fairness I was a little bit late, but Mrs Vendor was totally nonplussed and when I showed her my card she said ” Do you call that identification? “ I nearly walked away, miserable… what did she expect- “What you bring us today? New rubber boots, Ten dollar suits, things to crochet? No, that was not the point...   more »

I think a lot of the Bristol traders used to live up on the Wells Road and then they would totter down to the city to sell their wares back in the 18th century. Of course since then First Bus arrived to take everybody and anybody wherever they want and if you are lucky and have managed to attain the age of 60, someone or other will give you a bus pass, so that you don't have to walk back up the Wells Road. Unfortunately one of the traders in this house fell behind with his finances and I suspect probably the bank in this case have repossessed it. My Client is purchasing a house that structurally is in reasonable condition but, and here’s the but, internally it's going to need a hell of a lot doing to it. My Client must obtain estimates for all the internal renovations that are required so that he is fully aware of his costs, totting up the costs beforehand...   more »

Being a little bit busy today I had to track down to the former mining town of Nailsea where coal was mined in the 17th century and for a while because Cole was there it was a good idea to manufacture glass, and at Nailsea was the fourth largest manufacturer of low grade a bottle glass. Who made top grade glass I do not know, probably Mr Dartington of Devon. He certainly didn't build the dwelling I saw today, a 2 bedroomed bungalow that had been extended to the rear and at first floor level. It was a bit of a disappointment, but nevertheless I liked it although my Client will have to see through the current owners idiosyncrasies and also have to deal with potential problems should a fire occur in a property. If you are asleep in the top floor bedroom and there is no real fire escape, rather like sand when heated to a high temperature you may turn to glass…

Later today I was asked to look at a rather more modern semi detached townhouse in the middle of Clifton just off a short road that leads to a china shop; not many people know it's there, but it is and it sells Bristol China and not many people know that, but you do now. I'm sorry that the owner of this house did not know how to maintain it; it is only a few years old but it's rather showing its age or in this case, me old China you should have looked after it…   more »

I have just been over to Kingswood; I went to Nailsea YESTERDAY! Kingswood, probably so named after the then reigning Kings Wood, although initially it was known as the Royal Forest that was used for hunting by Kings from the Saxon times. I think it was probably last used for hunting when King John arrived on the scene. In rather more recent times of course it was well known for mining in the 18th century, when it was a small village. George Whitfield was an open air preacher who so greatly influenced John Wesley that it is thought Methodism was founded here and is the reason Kingswood grew because of the construction of schools, Tabernacles and churches by Whitfield, Wesley and their associates and followers. More recently the Douglas motorcycle was built there, as were boots made by G B Britton, but sadly all of this has gone. Today I saw a well maintained semi-detached house originally built for Kingswood local authority, but one which has long since passed into private ownership. It was sound and in good condition and free from defects. It has to be said it was bland, but my Client now has a good clean canvas on which to stamp (boot) his own mark, but he can't burn coal because the chimney stack has been removed in its entirety. There is ample space for bikes if he wants them, if he can find them …   more »

Is what Nailsea was built on. Coal was mined there as early as the 16th century and by the late 1700s there were many pits in the town. At that point, the social reformist Hannah Moore then arrived, and she probably stuck her oar in about not wanting to have tin baths in the living room! Of course being Hannah Moore, she also set up a Sunday school. Coalmining attracted glass manufacturers and in the late 1700’s, 1780 or thereabouts glass was manufactured at Nailsea to the extent it became the fourth largest manufacturer of low-grade bottle glass. (The site is now under the Tesco car park.) The dwelling I saw today was built rather later, in the late 1950s/early 1960s and was a semi-detached bungalow owned by a retired builder who got bored and decided to renovate it. So he has, and I think he is justifiably proud of his work because I found the home largely in good condition and free from major defect. There is a fireplace but if my Client wants to burn coal he will have to open up the chimney. If he wants some glass, well I suppose he’ll have to go to Tesco or alternatively, now that Waitrose has opened in the High Street, three minutes walk away, he may get better quality glass there, Do they do a price check???   more »

Today I was in a road which could have been named after Thomas Seymour, Lord High Admiral of England, Baron Sudeley, who lived near Cheltenham. He married Catherine Parr the sixth surviving wife of Henry VIII, his widow but he, Tommy was executed treason – conniving with the enemy – the Scots, I think. It could perhaps have been named after Sir John William Seymour who was Clark of Warmley council in 1897. (I suspect it was one of his relatives who later became President of the Anchor Society back in 1940 but he only raised £1158 for charity. We will forgive him; it was the war years.) I expect that the road was probably named after Bill, the Clark; it is probably more likely. However, having seen the date he was Clark of the Council, maybe it was a premature because these houses were probably built between 1880 and 1890. Wat-ever! It was a bit of a damp house, damp at ground level, damp at the first-floor rear elevations and damp in the attic conversion, so my Client has a damp problem which he will have to have sorted out as soon as possible and certainly to obtain estimates before exchange of contracts. That aside this was a pleasant house in a quiet location yet close to good local amenities that Gloucester Road has to offer…   more »

Today I looked at a delightful bungalow probably built about 20 years ago just off the High Street in what I regard as a very underrated area, Shirehampton. It is one of a mixture of houses and bungalows in a quiet cul-de-sac no doubt close to a priory that once stood in the area though like all priories, they seem to be closing and this was no exception. Nevermind, the vendor who had been occupation past five or so years had renovated it and improved it. He moved out of a pleasant block of flats because at the time, he told me he had a disagreement and quite probably a violent dislike to one of his neighbours. That neighbour has now died, so you can guess where he's moving!!! The nearest neighbour I've seen here was probably last year when I looked at the Tythe Barn on the High Street, for the church who successfully purchased it. I hope that my client is as successful here. Later, in the afternoon I had to go to a funeral, fortunately the wake was in a pub which cheered us all up…   more »