Conservatory Garden Garage

The Old Chapel
Old Town
St. Mary's
Isles of Scilly
TR21 0NN

Only by an internal viewing can the fine features and luxury of this truly individual house be fully appreciated.

Originally a Methodist Chapel, the property was converted to a home some time in the 1930s. Subsequently, in the late 1980s, the house was totally reconstructed and renovated and modernised by a previous owner. The owner at that time was well known on these islands for his building and fine restoration works and he used The Old Chapel as an example of his work.

Incorporated into the alterations was an extensive use of African hardwoods recovered from the wreck of “The Fantee,” a ship carrying valuable timber wrecked in 1949 on the Sevenstones reef off Lands End. The valuable timbers have been used throughout, most notably in the massive beamed ceilings and the relief panelling up to dado height in the main living room together with flooring, windows and doors whilst later a conservatory was erected running the full width of the rear of the house again using the same hardwoods.

The house adjoins the footpath on the fringe of Old Town. Old Town is the original main settlement of the island of St. Mary's and is approximately one mile from Hugh Town, which, with its main harbour, is now St. Mary's hub. Beaches, village shops, cafes and a public house are all in the immediate vicinity.

At the rear of the house is an enclosed and very private sub tropical garden imaginatively designed and planted with many fine specimen plants, shrubs and trees. Special places in the garden are set aside incorporating a bar, bbq area, pond and enclosed areas for privacy.

The Accommodation

N.B. Dimensions are approximate. The condition and operation of appliances or services referred to have not been tested by Island Properties and should be checked by a prospective purchasers.

A hardwood panelled door with opaque inset glazed panel opens into:

Reception Hall 9'0” X 8'0” Having “Fired Earth” terracotta tiled floor and fully panelled hardwood walls and pine ceiling. Panelled cupboard housing electricity consumer unit and meter. Night storage heater concealed behind a hardwood radiator cover with decorative fabric front. Sash window overlooking the ornamental fish pond and patio.

Cloakroom 7'9” X 5'0' Fitted with a white suite comprising wash hand basin and low level w.c and having a ceramic tiled floor and walls. Pine ceiling. Night storage heater. Electric ventilation. Multi paned door to garden.

From the reception hall a studded Iroko door with wrought iron furniture opens into the:

Living Room 30'0” X 21'0” Having a heavy beamed Iroko ceiling and a floor of maple wood (recovered from the ballroom of the old Holgates Hotel). The walls are half panelled throughout with exposed granite above. Four sliding sash windows and an attractive arched window to the front elevation. Three ceiling lamps and ten wall lamps.

The living room is divided into two distinctive areas being:

The Lounge Area 21'0” X 17'0” which has a central hardwood panelled fireplace with raised quarry tiled hearth and a cast iron fire surround and mantle with a cast iron wood burning inset stove. A winding staircase rises from the lounge area to the first floor with a concealed cupboard beneath.

The Dining Area 13'0” X 12'0” with a Victorian cast iron fireplace with decorative tile inserts and a raised quarry tiled hearth and antique pine surround.

Kitchen 12'2” X 7'7” A bespoke kitchen designed by a chef for a chef and fully fitted with a range of hand made panelled wall and base units in black acacia wood (from Tresco Abbey Gardens) with ebony dowels and knobs. The work surfaces, splash backs and deep window sills are made from 2” thick Russian black granite with white ceramic wall tiling above. The expensive fittings include a free standing Lacanche Cluny range cooker in stainless steel having five gas rings, a gas oven, and an electric oven with grill and storage cupboards beneath. Fornair electronically controlled extractor unit in stainless steel above with twin inset spotlights. Additional fittings include a Bosch electric oven. Zanussi washing machine. Bosch dryer. Bosch fridge / freezer. Twin bowl white Franke inset sink unit. Inset down lights in window reveals and under cupboard pelmets. High level Iroko wall shelving. Ample power points.

A door from the lounge leads into:

Conservatory 31'0” X 9'6” Built from Iroko hardwood timber with double glazed units throughout. Four opening roof lights and four opening casements provide ample ventilation. Ceramic tiled floor. Night storage heater. Mature grapevine. Access to garden and garage.

On the First Floor

Winding staircase from the living room to:

Landing 11'0” X 6'4” including stairwell. Having a window overlooking the garden and a night storage heater. Doors to:

Bedroom 1 17'2” X 12'0” maximum (8'9” minimum). Having a westerly outlook with distant sea views across the Lower Moors. Feature cast iron fireplace with ducks nest grate, raised quarry tiled hearth and antique pine mantle. Coved ceiling. French windows lead into:

Conservatory / Sitting Room 14'0” X 7'10” A bright south facing room with ceramic tiled floor and decorative tiled walls. Three walls are fully glazed and constructed from Iroko hardwood as to is the roof. Hardwood wall shelving.

Bedroom 2 12'7” X 12'1” having a similar outlook as bedroom 1. Corner fireplace with multifuel stove and a raised quarry tiled hearth and antique pine mantle. Coved ceiling. Hardwood door to:

En-Suite Bathroom 7'3” X 6'3” Decorated in a Spanish style having fully tiled walls and floor in “Fired Earth” terracotta with marble detailing. Sanitan suite with brass fittings comprising hardwood panelled bath with end cupboard. Pedestal wash hand basin and high level. w.c. Electric heated towel rail and extractor fan. Large wall mirror. Coved ceiling.

Family Bathroom 10'7” X 7'8” On two levels having Amtico marble effect flooring. Half tiled walls with decorative border and coved ceiling. Window overlooking the garden. Fitted with a Sanitan suite comprising half sunken hardwood panelled roll top bath, high level w.c. and wash hand basin with decorative cast iron stand. Marble shelves with decorative cast iron brackets. Thermostatically controlled heated towel rail. Custom built shower cubicle having curved doorway with fitted curtain. A mosaic tiled base with fully tiled ceramic walls and a Mira electric shower.

A door from the first floor landing leads to a hardwood staircase which gives access tot he second floor. There is a cupboard and storage space beneath the staircase and a window overlooking the rear garden.

On the Second Floor

Bedroom 3 16'5” X 4'6” Built into the roof of the Chapel with the original timber trusses exposed. Iroko flooring and wall panelling. Access through wall hatch to tank room and storage area. Four dormer windows allowing views over the garden to the rear and distant sea views across Lower Moors to the front. An arched hardwood door leads into:

En-Suite Bathroom 8'10” X 5'4” having a free standing antique roll top cast iron bath. wall mounted wash hand basin and close coupled w.c. Tiled splashbacks. Hardwood flooring and hardwood panelled walls. Extractor fan.

Outside The garden to the side and rear of the house is a delight to the eye at any season. Planted with a profusion of trees, shrubs and flowers many of which are sub tropical interspersed by lawns and most attractively planted with palms and fruit trees including pear, apple, and fig. Within the garden is a large water tank covered with a prolific rambling rose adjacent to which is a tiled bbq area having trellised walls and roof. To one side of the bbq area is a random slated patio flanking the well stocked ornamental pond. Also within the garden is a traditionally designed granite well having a slated roof with weather vein.

To the side of the property is the:

Garage 17'0” X 11'0” of stone and block construction with a pitched slated roof. Siding panelled hardwood vehicular doors and hardwood pedestrian door to the garden. There are hardwood windows on two elevations overlooking the garden and internally the garage has a plastered sloping ceiling and could readily be incorporated into the main house as a games room, office etc. subject to the necessary planning consents.

To the front of the garage is an area of hard standing suitable for off road parking.

SERVICES We understand that mains electricity, water and drainage are connected to the property. There is LPG for cooking.

ASSESSMENTS For the purposes of Council Property Tax, this property is designated in Band ‘G' in the Valuation List, producing a charge of £1977.90 for the year 2010/2011.

If the property is used as a second home and is available for letting for less than 140 days in any one year, the above charge will be subject to a 10% discount.

If, however, the property is used as a holiday letting investment and is available for letting for more than 140 days in any one year, then it may be assessed to a rateable value by the District Valuer and a Business Rate charge will be made by The Council of the Isles of Scilly at a national rate of 42.6p or 43.3p in the £ depending on the assessed rateable value of the property and the personal circumstances of the owner.

To each one of the above charges will be added the sum of £267.85 water charge and £156.55 sewerage charge.

TENURE Freehold Subject to a covenant which prohibits use of the property as a business (other than for holiday letting purposes).