Today I visited the Tardis, not really a police box you understand but a fairly substantial 1930s semi-detached house that had been extended this way and that, but looking at it did not seem as large as it was when I went inside. The roof void had been converted and has a bedroom with an ensuite shower room with WC combined, but you might have to be a midget to use it. They had built above the garage to marry in with a flying first-floor extension to the rear and then built beneath that flying extension, perhaps obviously at ground level. It was a well maintained house both externally and I'm pleased to say internally. It is on a reasonably busy road and, strangely, though I say this here and not in my report, but I may change my mind, bombing took place within 100 yards of this house but there was no evidence of any movement here, so that bodes well. Of course, if we went back in time to 1941 in the Tardis...   more »

I was looking at a garden flat today and was told that the top floor flat, or in this case the maisonette had no access to the roof. I was not particularly convinced by that comment, because I know the houses to have twin simple ridge roofs and normally there is a skylight for access onto the centre valley gutter. Nevertheless I persevered and by fortune I met the owner of the upper maisonette who confirmed, yes there was an access hatch onto the valley gutter and yes I could use it and get out there to inspect the roof which I did. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors say that if there is no access into the roof space within the property I am inspecting then I do not have to bother; what a silly argument that is; my Clients would not be happy if I took this attitude. It was raining but it didn't stop me looking at the roof. All was seemingly well as indeed was the main building. The flat requires a little tender loving care, an euphemism for a bit of improvement and redecoration, after which it will be a pleasant flat, where hopefully the sun will shine all day ...   more »

I have been driving around in a real tizz, because when I left my house I put my camera in my car. I stopped at my office and collected my papers and files for the two formal valuations that I was carrying out today. I went to the letting agents to collect keys and then I found that my camera was not in the car. Oh my God. I was absolutely sure it was in the car when I left; I couldn't properly hide it as I wanted to so I was going to put it in the boot but I didn't. I have been driving around all day with that dreadful sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach with the thought that as I could not have locked the car and thereforethe camera had been stolen, then it was not insured. I looked at the two houses and drove back to my house and there waiting safely on a shelf was, you've guessed it, my camera. No photographs today other than from my mobile phone and how do you work that, but, oh! what relief!!!   more »

Today I have been to see a top floor flat in a very substantial semi-detached house just off Whiteladies Road. I like top floor flats, because there is no aggravation for me in getting into the roof spaces and then on to the roof, as I was able to do so here. Here I found the roof and chimney stacks in fairly good condition, as were the rainwater goods. Main walls and windows were in reasonably good condition and although some movement has taken place in the walls I take the view that all of this is of an historic nature. Internally the flat is likely to require a certain amount of refurbishment and improvement but there should be nothing off-putting to my Clients purchase. Better insulation in roof would not go amiss and the wiring needs testing, as does probably the heating. Two of the three bedrooms and the living room were a tip; there was a bicycle in one bedroom! Refuse was spilling out the kitchen almost blocking the hall and I don't want to describe the bowl of the WC! It needs cleaning and clearing and possibly some decoration and then it will become a pleasant enough flat ...   more »

What a change it was to look at the house instead of a flat or maisonette; I seem to have seen a lot of those recently. Today I saw a very well maintained three-bedroom terraced house in what could really be described as an Artisan area of the city. The Artisans who own this house have taken down walls and open up the interior at ground floor level to its best advantage and to improve that advantage have built a single-storey extension to the rear. At first floor level there are three pleasant bedrooms and a neatly fitted bathroom. In addition there is a cloakroom beneath stairs. At one time, I expect there was a windmill at the top of the hill and of course today one could be erected, it would be known as a wind turbine and I suspect all the residents would complain so don't suppose it will ever be! I like looking at houses that are well maintained and I liked this house and I hope my client, who works abroad will also be pleased with it ...   more »

Today I inspected a lower maisonette that was converted some 15 or so years ago by a developer who I think started on this as his first project. I did not know his father, in deed I did not know his son, the developer but I do know that his father had real knowledge of Bristol historical architecture and I suspect that some of this was passed on to his son who became a builder developer. So, today the building in general and property in particular were largely in good condition. There are one or two small niggles, but nothing here that the Management Company cannot get sorted out, providing there is money in the sinking fund and then this will be another Grade II Listed Building that retains its excellence. The property has a parking space and a garden and is right in the centre of Clifton, more excellence...   more »

There are 15 houses in this rank that was started, so say, in 1809. The war with the French came along and this sort of interrupted things so the
last few houses were, so I am told, built in the mid 1830’s. However, 13 of the 15 houses are covered with natural slate, or at least they were seemingly covered with natural slate when they were originally built and although I was not on a roof covered with slate, I have been in the past and they are very large slates. I do not think slate come from Wales until after the advent of steam in about 1845, so there’s already a little conundrum about the actual age of the property. Conundrums aside this house and its neighbour had brick built vaulted roofs. They were not barrel vaulted as can be seen in some cellars, mainly in mediaeval property and the crypts of some churches, but here a shallow arch formed with brick and no doubt originally covered with tar. Today it is covered with mineral felt and a reflective paint, but like the others it is set behind a parapet wall, so it cannot be seen. The property what I saw was in need of total, and here I am talking TOTAL renovation so that not only will the property become an example of excellence it will be in a rank of houses of similar excellence ...   more »

I made an early start because later in the day I went to a Thanksgiving for the life of a dear old friend of mine, who had recently passed away. The church was full to the gunwales, almost like most of the cupboards I seem to look into, but here packed with people. It was a cheering Thanksgiving with superb well-known hymns that we all sang with gusto, hymns that were sung last at school, but the words were not forgotten…   more »

Today, bright and early I went to see a large two-bedroom flat in a very substantial house in a road that was probably named after a an Alderman of the city, who was also a Merchant. If truth be known I suspect that most Aldmen were merchants. The merchants were all very wealthy and they lived in very substantial houses. This house had been divided into four units but how many are let I do not know. I do know that the top floor is let which is probably the reason no one goes up and checks the roof valleys, because each of them are blocked. One has a very pleasant grass lawn growing on it and come the end of June, Wimbledon could almost be played on it, were it larger. The flat is somewhat tired and requires rejuvenation which I have no doubt that my Clients will put in hand, and after that, I'm sure that he will feel miles better ...   more »

This road that I have been along today when I inspected a house there must have been named after Queen Victoria's husband, Albert which, sort of dates the road and looking at the houses thet were probably built in the 1860s or thereabouts, maybe slightly later. They are not listed buildings, strangely, though I feel they perhaps should have been. The house I saw had a very pleasant Bath stone elevation but, can you imagine some of the neighbours have actually over rendered the stone – madness! Previous occupiers to this house fitted plastic double glazing and although the frames fit the openings, and I have to say quite well too, they just look out of place. A previous owner has also replaced the very decorative barge board, the timber below the roof verge or gable end with – plastic – uurrgghh! The house has been extended to the rear and like the house I saw yesterday many of the ground floor rooms - all of the ground floor rooms here have also been opened up so that here there is a real fire risk for anyone upstairs, and this needs sorting out. There are other areas as well but I think this could become a very pleasant home, when it's not raining ...   more »

The house that I have been to see today was nothing like Berkeley Castle other than the fact that I suspect the roof of Berkeley Castle also leaks; most stately homes seem to do. This is not a stately home though with four WC’s, one for him, one for her, one for someone else and one in case all three go wrong, I don't suppose Berkeley Castle has got many more! Lead to the roof here does require some repair and attention which has to be carried out now, otherwise it will be forgotten and problems will evolve. Many of the internal walls at ground level have been removed, opening it all up and with a two-storey extension built to the rear or of this becomes quite an interesting house, not quite as quirky as Berkeley Castle but ...   more »

Jehovah's Witnesses have absolutely nothing to do with the house I have been to see today, it's just that someone said, and I'm not going to say who - my daughter actually, the elder one that should have known better, - that she thought my brochure was a bit like a Jehovah's Witness publication??? Anyway, back to the realities of life, sorry Jehovah and all that, the house that I saw today was large, a typical Victorian property built on three floors and with a basement, a larger-than-life house, large rooms, large fireplaces, tall ceilings, and to boot, not in bad nick either. My Clients who are moving into Bristol from the country will certainly have to get used to parking problems, though there is space for a car or two, hopefully. There are three boilers, two really old large cast-iron affairs, that of course do not work and one that does. It is in a reasonably "countrified road", but the local authority have started pollarding the trees in the neighbourhood, and the vendor has had three trees cut down which is all a bit of a shame, but it does allow more light into the house. Being Victorian, decorations are a bit gloomy, but they can easily be changed, and the kitchen improved and then with a bit of luck and a word in Jehovah's ear ...   more »

I was told I was going off to see a former farmhouse today, so I was ready to get my Clifton tractor out on the streets, because I might have had to go 'off road', and parked on the pavement! I didn't, because the reality is that there are no farms left in Clifton, as far as I am aware. Even the house, which was described as at one time being a farm, was very probably knocked down in the 1820s and in its place two very substantial semi-detached houses were built, so that the owner could look after his nursery. At the time there was a gated private lane leading to the house which had a number of glasshouses surrounding it. They no longer exist of course but I could see them on the ordnance survey plan of the date, actually in 1880. Things have changed and the two houses have now managed to morph into four, as they do. The dwelling that I saw today was light and bright and spacious. Another Grade II Listed Property, with various contraventions but, hey - it wouldn't be listed building without breaches of its listed building status, now would it???   more »

I've been down to the seaside today, where I think I found a little gem, a Georgian Grade II Listed terraced property having four bedrooms, two reception rooms, a number of genuine period features as well as a genuine Aga, though it uses solid fuel, I do not see this as much of a distraction but, they are very dusty. The house is in need of some renovation and improvement but most of this is of a superficial rather than structural nature. Nevertheless I suspect it may need rewiring and a new boiler. There are Gothik - yes it is spelt that way - mouldings to the front windows and the fanlight above the front door which has fielded and insized panels. There are flagstones as flat as a pancake, rectangular in shape and almost the size of a tennis court, no that can't be right, the house ain't that big, but you know what I mean! The garden is huge, but I think most it is vertical as it is at the bottom of a rock face which does seem reasonably stable. I think my Client has found a bit of a gem ...   more »

Many years ago just away from the centre of Bristol, close to the General Hospital and to the docks was a public house then known as The Bathurst Tavern. Of course, all the locals referred to it as “The Thirst”, naturally so, but subsequently it changed its name and is now known as The Louisiana Tavern. Henry Bathurst was I believe Lord Apsley who happened to be the Foreign Secretary in 1809 but whether or not roads were named after him when houses were constructed some 70 or so years later I have my doubts. Nevertheless today I have been to see a top floor one-bedroom flat in a reasonably quiet location that was largely in good condition. It benefits from a garage, has full central heating, is clean and light and bright and I think that my Client can move in with doing little. He may of course, wish to do a lot, and that no doubt will make him thirsty ...   more »

Otherwise known as CPD. I don't know anybody who relishes the thought of CPD. Today however I had the opportunity of completing about a quarter of my annual requirement for CPD. God bless the organisers! They arranged a meeting in the middle of Bristol, which was not difficult to get to, at a reasonable time and, believe it or not lunch was included, and the cost was a great big Zero! I suppose that each of the five seminars were, in reality sales pitches and although it is unlikely I will need to use any of those companies, it is fair to say I did get something out of it – lunch, oh and five hours CPD…   more »

Today I have been travelling again, this time to Bath where I have just seen a small but very typical Artisan terraced property. It was also a grade II listed building where there were a couple of breaches but I don't suppose the Conservation Officer will notice the concrete tiles on the roof which really should have been clay. By today's standards the walls are thin, only about 150mm in thickness but despite this fact, the house was reasonably dry because many of the walls have been dry lined. Of course, being in Bath I had trouble with the access hatch onto the roof because Bob the builder cut it too small, I had difficulty with another hatch which was hinged and had to be propped open and the third hatch was so small as to be no use at all. Peter the plumber had placed the header tank so no one could get behind it and by the time I'd finished in the roof I was somewhat exasperated; I was losing the will to live! Never mind, it wasn't a bad day, the house was delightful, nicely laid out and in Bath, where parking can be a serious problem, it had space for two or even three vehicles. It is a quiet location and I'm very pleased for my Client, who I hope likes Listed Buildings ...   more »

Well, you may as well know the name of the house I have been to see today, but “I ain't going to tell you where it be!” It was a substantial property, a grade II listed building of architectural and historical importance that was probably built just after the Georgian period, because it's roof is covered with slates from Wales and there was no way of getting slates to the area (I nearly said where was !) before 1845, the advent of steam. Of course, it could have been built earlier and had a clay tiled roof and was then recovered at a later date with slates, but I think not. It is a property that has been renovated to a fairly good standard, it is light and bright and spacious, but having said that it's not particularly ‘roomy’. I am pleased to say however that I founded largely in good condition and free from major defect. There are some issues; tell me when there aren't, but I see none of these as being off-putting to my Client's purchase. I'm not too certain, strangely as yet from where he is moving, but I think he's found a very pleasant house in a convenient location somewhere in the South West ...   more »

I have just been to see a very large purpose-built block of flats in north west Bristol that were built about 30 years ago. The building in general and the flat in particular were each in fairly good condition. Having made that point, there is some evidence of movement in the building but this is being monitored by the Management Company, because they know about it, as over one of the cracks there is a tell-tale. Cracking of the brickwork is not extensive and, as noted the Management Company are aware of it. The flat itself is in need of a certain amount of updating but all of this is very much of a superficial nature. I met the chairman who indicated that many of the residents had been there since it was built and that there are only two requirements to live here and that one is that owners need to be over 70 and they like playing bridge! Whether or not my clients meet this requirement I have no idea but if they don't, then in time I'm sure they will. And what a pleasant place in which to live, peaceful and quite with just the rattle of playing cards running through the building…   more »

Well, hopefully the primroses will shortly be out but I didn't see any around this house that I saw today, a house that is reasonably new, and was completed just about six months ago. All in all it was a very pleasant house but, I think I might have shot the architect, because he didn't think particularly well about the layout of the house and some of the finishes. There was nothing wrong with the finishes, it's just the way they were finished. There's nothing wrong with the layout, it's just the way it is laid out and fancy fitting a Velux skylight to a small bedroom and not in the adjacent ensuite bathroom. Why? Because they've already fitted a large solar panel over this area. Something about up there for thinking and down there for dancing, so hopefully the primroses will shortly come out ...   more »

They say that two into one won't go; they are not always right. Today I saw a one bedroomed flat that had been converted into a two bedroomed flat. The original kitchen had been converted into a bedroom whilst the living room has been neatly divided to form a smaller living room with a kitchen area having a glazed screen with Venetian blinds to hide any mess should my Clients make any mess preparing their meals, but I doubt that'll be the case. The flat was light and bright and all principal rooms had natural light and ventilation including the bathroom though not the ensuite shower room. Parking can be a bit of a nightmare, but tell me where isn’t in Bristol and I think that, on the whole my Clients have found a reasonably pleasant home with full double glazing, insulated walls, insulated ceilings and good-quality fitments, so they can move in, prepare that evening meal and hide that mess should they make any with Venetian blinds ...   more »

I don't know whether it was Kenneth Williams or The Worzels, who many years ago sang about the attributes of Nempnett Thrubewell, which is where I have been today. Sat Nav took me along narrow potholed lanes full of water, streams of water running down them. Nevertheless when I got to my appointment, although it was cold it was clear and a bright day which allowed me to look carefully at this Somerset farmhouse that was probably built circa 1725, or may be slightly later, 1750, which had in part most of its original roof. Many years ago a barn had been added to one side but this was amalgamated into the main residence and in place of cattle at ground level I found a very pleasant drawing room. To the rear was a two-storey extension housing a kitchen and two bathrooms above. It was a delightful house in a delightful situation with a very pleasant open aspect towards Compton Martin, which may be where you will find the Somerset Nog   more »

I have just been to a delightful village in South Gloucestershire where there is a courthouse and a ‘Tolzey’, another type of court to keep the villagers in check. (Actually I think it's been turned into a public convenience which is a bit of a come down). There are also three public houses in the village though one of them is for sale and I suspect in due course it will be lost. The village has its own stores, a butcher and I suspect baker may be hidden away somewhere, and course, there was the ever present estate agent. Today I was at a quiet 19th-century cottage that had been extended this way and that, on three sides but it was still a relatively small cottage full of nooks and crannies but largely in good condition. It was in a quiet location just away from the village and with a very good-sized garden. I rather liked it, but to me it's a shame it is just too far out of Bristol though I suspect it will be just right for my lucky Client, who can sit in peace and tranquillity and muse the benefits of the countryside ...   more »

I had thought that they had given up building hovels; that went out in the 19th century and here we are in the 21st. The house I saw today was a hovel, a large back to back, or should that be a semi-detached 10-year-old hovel. Actually the house itself wasn't half bad but, the tenants clearly had not studied a domestic science at school nor had they learned how to look after a house. They had used and abused it; they did not care about it, lights did not work a bath was full of water because the plug was stuck and of course there was a mess everywhere. The flat roof over the bay window looked like an ashtray! Heating was a full on; the dwelling was like being in a sauna and because windows aren't opened condensation thrives. The house itself was different, in a reasonably useful location and of interesting design; I liked it, but that was all. Still, remove the tenants, clean the house, and make good superficial repairs and re-decorate it, internally as well as externally, and then you have a pleasant modern show home of which you can be proud…   more »