Shakespeare should have been here in the dark days of 1941 when Bristol was heavily damaged during enemy action of the last war. The flat that I was inspecting today was converted from a mid-terraced property close to Whiteladies Road and I was not surprised to find, when I got back to my office to check my records that a 500 kg bomb exploded almost directly opposite the terrace of houses in which the flat was situated. Surprisingly the front elevation was slightly out of kilter; I suspect anything or anybody would have been slightly out of kilter had they been in the vicinity at the time, but I could see nothing untoward here, which no doubt would have pleased Shakespeare, had he been here, as well as I hope, my Client. The Management Company are keeping the building fairly well maintained but nevertheless there are some areas that require further attention to which I have drawn to my Clients attention. I don't think there's much else to say other than the fact that with a little bit of ingenuity this one-bedroom flat could possibly become a two-bedroom flat...   more »

Today I found myself in the Chew Valley where I was looking at a mid-terraced house that had recently been renovated. Although generally speaking I found the house in good condition I rather felt that the developer had missed the point. Originally there would have been two rooms on either side of a central corridor leading from the front door. These partitions have been removed so anyone entering comes straight into a fairly narrow and too longer living room; it is all rather out of proportion. The fireplace at one end has been removed, the fireplace which has a chimney stack. The fireplace at the other has also been removed and in its place the most awful electric flicker flame fire has been hung on the wall without any mantle or surround or thought. The position of the staircase has clearly been moved and there is now a fire hazard because should a fire occurr in the kitchen, it may sweep across the dining area to the staircase, so trapping any occupants upstairs. Off the kitchen is a utility room and beyond that is an internal cloakroom. All well and good, but why not create an opening opposite the stairs and into the cloakroom, where there was a slight whiff of sewers, so keeping it away from the kitchen? The bathroom is internal but a sun tube has been introduced for daylight, though had an electrically operated Velux skylight been fitted it would have given natural light and ventilation. Whilst I was happy with the structure I was rather disappointed with the finish…   more »

Endeavouring to catch up, today I went from A, Alveston to W, Winterbourne. At Alveston I saw a bungalow built in the 1950s and occupied for the past 39 or so years by a bit of a collector. He collected this, he collected that, and he collected the other. The front garden had a lamppost, a small statue, a weathervane (with compass points the wrong way round) and a fountain. This collecto, who was also a bit of a do it yourselfer had a camper van, a canal boat and was going to live in a mobile home so you are probably getting the picture. Fortunately most of the collectable items which apparently varied from blowtorches, miniature steam engines, books and other paraphernalia had all been removed. Structurally the dwelling was in reasonable condition but it does need dragging and screaming into the 21st century, oh and the roof is going to need fully insulating. The owner at Winterbourne, on the other hand kept the house ‘spick and span’, clean and tidy with everything up-to-date, a house proud owner who was moving because her children were growing up fast, and away and she and her husband wanted a change. So today I've seen everything from A to W, and I now wonder what tomorrow will bring when I go to the Old Bakehouse…   more »

Quasimodo was the hunchback of Notre Dame but I don't think there was ever a Quasimodo of St Mary's Stoke Bishop, but I may be wrong. The Stride Brothers were local builders of unquestionable repute. Their trademark was often brick facings to front doors, some tile hanging on the front elevation and slightly fanciful roof lines. They often had metal framed Critall windows, fitted with leaded lights externally. Internally more often than not the halls were all panelled and had fireplaces. Mock inglenook fireplaces having what are known as Claygate brickwork were generally found in the living rooms. This house was no exception, but it was large, very large, very, very large, much larger than I was expecting. Nevertheless because it was built by Stride Brothers, I found little wrong with it, other than apparent recent disregard for its heritage as it was temporarily being occupied by the grandson of the owner who went to join Quasimodo some months ago. Unlike Quasimodo the house was structurally sound; it was not buckled or bowed, but it will require significant renovation to bring no doubt dragging and screaming into the 21st century, possibly to the bells of St Mary's…   more »

My diary today had me looking at a converted flat in Clifton. Unfortunately my Client was unsuccessful in his bid and, knowing this, it was fair not to go ahead with the survey. But, what to do instead; I had just come back from holiday? Nevertheless there was a ‘key job’ that was available and as I was already booked in to look at the roofs of a block of flats in Leigh Woods, it was not difficult to drive down over Providence and into Long Ashton to see this Victorian pavement aged house. There aren't many older houses in Long Ashton and I suspect many of them at one time were tied into the Smythe estate. I don't think this terrace of houses was and, although 13 is unlucky for some, this house was seemingly sound and in good condition. It has certainly been renovated in the past and I suspect fairly extensively, because all the ceilings are of plasterboard and even some of the ceiling joists have been renewed. All the partitions are of timber studding whereas originally I suspect the ground floor partitions or walls would have been of solid construction. Although it has been renovated the windows have not and they need some attention. The bathroom is internal but a Velux skylight will improve it no end and were the bath replaced with a shower you could then open the door fully. Although the house is pavement aged at the front it has a pleasant garden to the rear but one has to cross a right of way at the rear of houses for all to use, but this is quite typical of a Victorian terrace…   more »

I was trying to make up lost time, so today I was making an inspection of a house down in The Dings, an old area of Bristol, part od St Philips, where many of the small Victorian terraced houses have been demolished in favour of contemporary flats and houses with streets paved with brick as opposed to cobbles (or gold). The pavement edged property that I saw was all in reasonable condition and in my view was well priced. I took the opportunity of walking around the area and found two new bridges behind Temple Meads railway station, one of stainless steel being next to a Brunel's Bridge which is set behind his station. Many of the older houses have been demolished and replaced with high rise blocks of offices and I can quite see this becoming a very popular area because of its location and probably becoming more so when Mr Tesco opens one of his Metro stores. Why The Dings? The original houses were built on land adjacent to the railway sidings in St Philips,which the Bristolian’s shortened to The Dings...   more »

I was delayed for a day by the frog air traffic controllers who went on strike yesterday so my Easyjet flight was cancelled (by text) but by logging on to their website I rearranged my flight for Thursday. No great problem, I just did it and got on with it and enjoyed another day in Spain. Back in the real world I could well have found frogs in the house I was at today, a pleasant three-storey house in the middle of Clifton that to all intents and purposes was fine. I was on the point of leaving when I thought I would just look and see what was beneath plant troughs and pots are sitting on a sheet of cast-iron adjacent to the side wall and low and behold there was a cellar. I had to get my ladders down into it and I suspect that the reality is that the cellar might even run beneath the adjoining houses. I couldn't see because there was about a metre of water below my ladders, so it is all quite interesting. I spoke to the daughter of the adjoining owner whose mother lives very close by before I found the cellar and she told me that in her house there may have been steps in the passage down to the docks and The Portway, used by smugglers for contraband. It may sound somewhat fanciful but, I haven't really seen a cellar anything quite like this ...   more »

I am due to go away for a week tomorrow so I am trying to cram in as much as is possible, so today I was looking at a very pleasant and spacious 1930s semi-detached house in Henleaze. It retained the original roof but guttering and windows had been replaced. The main walls were reasonably sound. I say reasonably sound because the rear quarter of the property had certainly settled and dropped. It was not significant but it was quite noticeable and of course I have had to point this out to my Client. I don't think my Client is over worried and taking a very pragmatic viewpoint. The house has settled and moved; it is largely stable and I think it is unlikely that further movement will occur but of course I cannot guarantee that. My Client need not move for another 20 years because there is ample space to extend into the roof void and so make this a large house in a large garden in a convenient location that is alright by me…   more »

I was thankful it was such a pleasant day to day because to-day I was looking at a chalet style bungalow in the coastal resort of Clevedon. My file was left in the office as was, unfortunately my mobile phone. I knew I was going to Clevedon and unfortunately I knew the agents from whom I was collecting the key, so I went straight there from my house. Unfortunately I did not know the address and, surprise, surprise, neither did they! They were going to give me the key to a completely different property, which somehow did not sound right, so to check I used their phone and got the correct information from my office and then went along to see an open plan pleasant property largely in good condition and free from major defect. I felt it was slightly overpriced and of course said so and I do hope that my Clients can come to some arrangement and a successful negotiation for their purchase…   more »

I thought I was going to look at the house I thought I was going to see today but it was described rather differently. When I got there I was delighted to find that it was the house I thought I was going to see in the first place so that was pleasant. It is an attached house on the south facing slopes of Clifton Hill and at one time might have been a coach house but it is difficult to say. It was hot today just over 80° outside but when I went inside, into the roof space I lost quite a lot of weight. It was very hot in there and I got halfway round before finding I needed an extension to my lead light. So, out I went and came back with it to get all round the roof which I did and when I came out I needed a shower. The house was vacant; the house was empty; there was no furniture, no soap and no towel; there were curtains... This is a very large property in an interesting location that should be noisy but wasn't, even though I had all the windows and the front door open. There was a thought it might be a listed building but the Local Authority planning portal would indicate that it is not which is good news because the plastic double glazing, although totally out of keeping, of course can remain, as can the plastic gutters, the concrete tiles on the roof...   more »

Later on I had a look at a similar aged property, this time a semi-detached house that had been occupied for the past goodness knows how many years by the present owner whose father purchased it five years after was built in 1932; it has therefore been in the family, well you work it out. The house is basic. The tiles are original as is the roofing felt, but that it was in remarkably good condition. Gutters and windows had been replaced but that was about all because the Parkray solid fuel room heater/back boiler was still in use. The wiring and also looked dubious and the kitchen had a couple of units and an enamel sink. The bathroom also needs updating and the house eventually redecorating. There is the prospect of a garage down a shared driveway and the garden is pleasant, so all in all another good find but I suspect my Clients will be spending rather more on the refurbishment than on the house I saw earlier today. Answer 75 years...   more »

This morning I looked at a pleasant three bedroomed mid-terraced house in a quiet cul-de-sac close to Bishop Road Primary School for my Clients who hope to move to the area as they have a child getting to primary school age, and before they know it she'll be off to secondary school. The house I saw has been tenanted for awhile and rather looked that way, but I'm pleased to advise them that it is structurally in reasonably good condition. There are no imperative or essential repairs required but, knowing my Clients the house will need redecorating and I suspect his wife will need a new kitchen. The bathroom has been renovated and is in fairly good condition but like most bathrooms it has obscured glass in the windows which personally makes me feel very claustrophobic. As always, I have suggested the glass is removed and replaced with clear, because privacy can be retained with net curtains or Venetian blinds. The house has a pleasant garden and is in a quiet location. A good find...   more »

As I am trying to get up-to-date and not keep my Clients waiting, it was necessary for me to look at a second property this afternoon over in Brislington, where I saw a pleasant end of terrace house built in the 1930s. The house was sound, although perhaps somewhat basic. The chimney stack in theory requires be pointing or rendering but, when in the roof space it doesn't exist, or at least the bottom half of it doesn't. The upper section is cantilevered out from the party wall and propped up with a couple of gash pieces of timber. It seemed an awful lot of work to remove the chimney stack from the adjoining bedrooms in order to squares of them off but that is now done and of course it means that neither of the fireplaces in the living room or dining room can be used. My Client noted a crack above the front door but there was no evidence of it existing internally although the wall beneath the window might have been re-plastered in the past. What causes crack it is difficult to discern, but the drains have been replaced so there may be a clue there; seemingly no further cracking has occurred. The house may require we wiring and the boiler renewing; both should be tested. I found a little bit of damp and a little bit of woodworm which could be locally treated or although in this case I know a man who can...   more »

My job this morning in Cotham was postponed by the vendor who kindly advised me that as his purchase was not proceeding he felt that I should not spend my Clients money on a survey of the flat in Cotham he intended to sell to him, so I didn't. Instead I was able to look at a top floor flat in Clifton so my next Client hopefully will be happier that I had seen it earlier than I anticipated. This was a spacious flat with a pleasant roof garden though I doubt either the roof garden would meet the approval of the Conservation Officer, were he to see it and were he to see the UPVC double glazed windows, there is no doubt he would have had apoplexy on the spot. Whether or not he would have liked the concrete tiles covering the roof in place of the original slate I have no idea but I don't suppose so. The roof was clearly recovered by Rob, the roofer, probably a friend of Bob, the builder, because the tiles use all of different colours making quite a patchwork but having said that the roof was not leaking, but the laedwork leaves somethingh to be desired. The tiles are heavier than the original slate and a certain amount of strengthening had taken place including a substantial steel joists that had been introduced into the rear roof void, and all the rafters is to the side slope had been renewed. The building was otherwise in reasonable condition as was the flat. Parking however will be a little bit of a nightmare though for me, my parking found me a spot right outside; thank you parking fairy. So today although my Client in Cotham lost, my Client in Clifton won ...   more »

Today I saw a very pleasant two bedroomed property in a Regency period house, in a quiet road in Clifton. Exactly when it was converted I'm unsure but I suspect many, many years ago. The property has a part flat roof and part which is formed with five ‘top of the tunnel’ shaped sections, long, shallow arcs if you like, but these were not visible from ground level. With what they were constructed, it was difficult to say, but the underlying ‘strata’ was very firm. The entire roof was covered with asphalt and was in good condition. A number of the lower roofs, howeverare finished with corrugated asbestos cement sheeting which does nothing for their appearance though most of them were weathertight. Although Bristol was heavily bombed during enemy action of the last war, no bombs dropped close by though there was a large explosion at the end of the road which may have been the cause of some gentle and historic movement I noted on the front elevation. The windows need modest attention because one of them nearly guillotined me when I was looking out of it on to the corrugated asbestos cement sheet roofs below; I live to tell the tale but the sash cords need replacing. The flat itself was light and bright and reasonably spacious. All the rooms had natural light and ventilation including the bathroom where, hooray, clear glass had been retained as opposed to claustrophobic obscure glass which I regularly find. However, I suspect Tim the tiler forgot to lay marine ply beneath the bathroom tiles which are now cracked and one is holed. The radiator is leaking here as well. Despite all this I see no reason why my Client should not proceed, because a good flat with a good address should always be reasonably easy to sell...   more »

Today I have been to Sneyd Park, arguably one of the best residential areas in the city to look at a two bedroomed flat on behalf of my Clients who were interested in converting it into two units. Two of the rooms are more than elegant, are more than sufficient size to be subdivided but are so planned that I fear this ain’t gonna happen. I knew this was their intention and I met my Clients at the property well before I had completed my report and went through the proposed design, but to my eye it was very much a contrived conversion that would have cut cornicing and ceiling roses in two. The existing conversion, to an extent was also contrived and the idea of taking down substantial walls to form a main bedroom that would then have completely mis-matched coloured glass windows would never be worth the candle. There is a large conservatory into which it was proposed to have a kitchen/dining area that of course would be unbelievably hot no matter what was cooking. Bedroom two would have been in place of the existing already narrow kitchen where space was taken up by chimney breast. The smaller unit has no real fire escape, neither did really, but I suppose it could have become a 'studio appartment'. I did not think this is going to make a good conversion and said so…   more »

But I was not watching the tide go away; it just felt like that. I happened to be sitting on the roof on top of a house in Bishopston and thinking that I must be mad climbing out of a Velux skylight to get to the flat roof but there was no other way. I am glad that I did, but it is always in such a situation that my batteries give up the ghost, so down I go again, three flights of stairs to find batteries and go back up to complete my work. The chimneys and roofs were in reasonably good condition. Walls and windows weren’t bad, but a number of the sashes are painted jammed and they will need easing. The vendor had known that I was to be at the house today but nevertheless the cupboards and roof voids with stuffed to the gunwales with their belongings - I nearly said rubbish and it might have been because I just refuse to clear out cupboards and roof spaces as it is not a part of my remit. (Some may say I'm getting cantankerous in my old age; my wife might say I was difficult.) That aside the roof was in good condition and I do not anticipate any defects being found in those unseen areas. The house benefits from a cellar where I found ‘pitch’ used as a damp proof course and as a result the walls were generally speaking dry. However, the elctrics, down in the cellar are a bit of a jungle and they will need sorting out, as may well the drains, but I don't think, hopefully that this should be a big job. Well, now it's the weekend so I can think about that pint of beer I promised myself all week…   more »

I was half expecting the author, H. E. Bates, to come strolling out of this ramshackle old farmhouse I saw today. In actual fact it was a farm with cow sheds that had been converted probably some 50 or so years ago and extended at that time at both ends, but regrettably in some respects not particularly well maintained. It was not on the point of collapse or anywhere near that, but there were concrete tiles, there were clay tiles, there were double Roman tiles and there were Pantiles on the roof. There were plastic gutters, metal gutters and asbestos gutters to collect rainwater. The walls were either solid stone, or cavity work finished with stone or rendered. There were metal windows; there was softwood timber framed windows some of which were double glazed and about to fall out and there were UPVC plastic windows which were also double glazed. Internally it was all a bit messy, and I expect it needs rewiring, potentially new central heating, probably a new kitchen and definitely a new bathroom. The gardens were heavily overgrown to the extent does hardly able to see some of the walls. It's a pity it is July; I rather felt it was like the Darling Buds of May…   more »