You couldn't find a home in a better location for walking into the centre of Holt than Prospect House on New Street.
You literally amble to the end of your road and you are in the bustling high street which these days attracts many a Royal visitor - I, myself, literally bumped into the Duchess of Cambridge outside Bakers & Larners the other week and the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Cornwall have all been spotted perusing the shops recently.
Holt is just your quintessential Georgian town with its independent shops and of course pulling you in for that slice of banana cake the diet really doesn't require, Byford's!
As a result of its popularity, houses rarely come up for sale in the centre and this one has been lived in by the same owner, a former mayor of Holt, for just over half a century and been in his family since the turn of the century. Its listing states it dates to the Regency era, being built in the early to mid 1800s but it is classically Georgian in design and boasts a very different front and rear exterior, typical of that period.
The front, facing the street and the side people would see, is smart brick and the rear is flint. The flint would have been considered rather crude then whereas, interestingly, of course many of us now adore the traditional materials and place much more importance and status on them.
It's a very handsome house, definitely designed in the Georgian style although this could have been the builder wanting the property to fit in with other, original Georgian ones in the town, it's difficult to really know.
And what you need to appreciate is that this is a townhouse so there's not much garden but a pretty 'gin and tonic' terrace and some very versatile use of space and flexible extras - more on this later on! What I really liked was, strolling down New Street, how the period houses have lovely names like Queen Adelaide House with many boasting steps up to the front door like Prospect House which gives them a feeling of grandeur.
Inside there is the classic period room arrangement with a sitting room off the hall, right, and a separate dining room, off left and the owners say they eat Sunday lunch in there every week so it's not just used for Christmas!
This house boasts super sash windows and it's a sun filled home. Towards the rear is an attractive kitchen fitted about 10 years ago and this leads into a garden room with doors to the patio area outside and a very attractive feature flint wall. You also have a fully converted and carpeted cellar which houses a study and storage area and four bedrooms arranged over two further floors.
A staircase with a fairly steep rise takes you to the first floor meaning you benefit from high ceilings and a large landing off which are the beautifully presented master bedroom and guest bedroom, both with fitted wardrobes and large en suites. On the top floor, again fully converted, are a further two double bedrooms and a shower room, so ideal for children.
Outside is a drive so you can park your car off the road but the real surprise is in more accommodation over the garage and workshop, once a hayloft. Upstairs you have a really large room ideal for entertaining which comes with a bathroom boasting a steam shower and sauna and below is a utility so you could actually create a self contained annexe out of all these rooms or it's perfect for working from home. There's even a balcony with a small terrace. What is really apparent is that this house has been very much loved over the years and kept in excellent presentation and order. And who knows who you'll bump into when you next pop out for a pint of milk!
Prospect House, Holt is for sale for £775,000 with Watsons Period & Prestige on 01603 619916 or the Holt office on 01263 711021.
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