Stanford Avenue, Brighton

Located overlooking Blakers Park in one of Brighton's most desirable and sought-after residential enclaves Number "79 Stanford Avenue" is a completely unique residence being the former house of Sir John Blaker creator of Blakers Park. Houses of this stature rarely come to the open market. Steeped in history this beautiful double-fronted semi-detached period home is substantial in size and magnificent in all aspects. Designed in the most superior style with architectural and historical importance throughout.

This is an exceptional opportunity to own a phenomenal home refurbished by the multi-award-winning architectural practice Morgan Carn Architects who have been responsible for numerous prestigious development projects in the city and further afield.

Morgan Carn Architects are a leading multi-award-winning practice founded in Brighton & Hove over 60 years ago, who are responsible for numerous prestigious developments in the city and Sussex. MCA secured five Sussex Heritage Trust Awards in 2024 for their contemporary design houses and also recently for their Hannington's Lane development in the city centre of Brighton Old Town alongside the beach café development at West Wittering.

This extraordinary six-bedroom family home which stands on a substantial corner plot, where Stanford Avenue meets Southdown Road is a stunning example of Victorian architecture, built by Sir John Blaker, this residence served as his family home from 1895 to 1926 and has retained many original features, including exquisite stained glass panels in the entrance hall, reception room and bedrooms.

Stanford Avenue occupies a fabulous position with elevated south/west exposure flooding this property with light throughout. The property offers extensive and versatile living space both externally and internally and is offered for sale in immaculate order. The use of high-specification materials throughout and thoughtful design process really make this house stand out from the crowd.

Stanford Avenue stands in an unrivalled location adjacent Blakers Park. The park is named after Sir John Blaker who was an extraordinary individual who built number 79 Stanford Avenue as his own home. In 1894 Blaker gave the land now known as Blakers Park to the people of Brighton. Blaker was also Brighton Mayor three times and received a Knighthood for his services. Blakers House, next door to 79 Stanford Avenue is also being marketed for sale for the first time in over 30 years. Both Blakers House and 79 Stanford Avenue are an important part of Brighton's history and social fabric.

79 Stanford Avenue is situated on a substantial plot with level access. The property is hidden behind traditional brick and flint boundary walls and hedging with gated access, that opens onto beautiful, landscaped gardens that wrap around the house.

The grand entrance to the house is approached from Stanford Avenue, via the walled gardens at the front of the property. The front façade has exceptional brick detailing and barley twist balustrade and posts, over which an established wisteria grows to welcome you on your arrival. A porch is formed by the overhanging balcony on the first floor and is tiled with the original black-and-white mosaic path tiles. The front door has elaborate mouldings, while above and to either side are exquisite stained-glass panels, with the house number in the top panel. In the garden to the front of the house, there is a beautiful sculpture entitled "Someone" by renowned Royal Society sculptor Bill Harling.

In the entrance hall, the magnificent mosaic-tiled Victorian floor has been painstakingly restored to original design. Period details include original balustrading and newel posts, elaborate cornicing, ceiling roses, high skirtings and a dado rails and there are corbels on the landings as the stairs rise to the first floor.

To the right of the entrance hall an impressive reception room, which extends over eight metres in length, with a beautiful bay window overlooking the garden graced by four stained glass panels with a pastoral theme. This room has ornate cornicing and ceiling roses as well as stepped detailing on the skirtings which are over 40cm high. There is concealed cabling for a wall-mounted television.

An opening from the reception room leads to a stunning, contemporary kitchen/dining room which has been fitted with high-quality cabinets and island with seating area; the base units are in glossy light grey and are complemented by matte graphite wall units. Tall units house a double oven and grill, while integrated appliances include a full-height fridge, separate freezer, and dishwasher. The oak-effect flooring enhances the space, with task lighting under the wall cabinets and built-in lighting along the base of the kitchen peninsula, which also features an induction hob with built-in extraction. Two modern double-glazed windows flood the dining area with natural light, while Velux rooflights illuminate the kitchen. Low pendant lighting creates a cosy atmosphere over the dining table, and there are three pendant lights over the granite peninsula, which distinctly separates the kitchen and dining area.

A downstairs WC, off the entrance hall, is well-appointed with an oval hand basin set in a wall-hung vanity unit, with a mirror incorporating built-in lights above. Under the stairs on the ground floor, there is a utility cupboard for the washing machine and dryer. The Candy appliances are new and under warranty, with an A rating and are Wi-Fi enabled so that they can be controlled from an app. The house has an Orisec Control Plus 2 alarm, also app-controlled.

Two gorgeous downstairs bedrooms/ home offices/ reception rooms have garden views, and both have stained glass windows above the main windows. In the front bedroom, there is a stunning feature square bay window on the diagonal, at the corner of the room, which has four stained glass panels, adorned with portraits of women representing the four seasons. The chimney breasts have been stripped in both bedrooms to reveal the original brickwork and both the rooms have ornate ceiling roses.

On the first floor, there are three generous bedrooms, including two impressive bedrooms at the front of the property, both of which are ensuite. Both the ensuites have large walk-in showers and hand basins with Hans Grohe taps and WCs. There are large format Kelsey graphite tiles on the walls, waterfall showers and additional handheld showers. Mirrored cabinets have heated glass and built-in lighting. Either of these two front bedrooms would make a wonderful principal bedroom. One has access to the large roof terrace above the kitchen, and the other has double doors onto the balcony at the front of the house, with a barley twist balustrade. This room also has stained glass panels featuring birds. The third bedroom on first-floor level is also a generous double and has views to the west over the garden. All the bedrooms are generous in proportions, have high ceilings, cornicing, picture rails and high skirtings. A further luxury bathroom off the landing, with panelled walls to the dado rail, has a stylish contemporary double-ended bath, a wide handbasin set in a wall-hung vanity unit, with Hans Grohe pillar tap, and a large walk-in shower with a low profile 1300 x 900mm tray.

On the top floor of the property, there is an enormous room which would make a fantastic games room/office or master bedroom suite. There are plans for a principal bedroom suite on this floor and the plumbing is already in place, should a future owner wish to adopt this plan. A door from this room opens to an external spiral staircase which serves as both a fire escape and as access to the first-floor roof terrace, from where there is a further staircase down to ground level.

The house also has a cellar, under the rear downstairs bedroom. The cellar is accessed from the garden and houses the Worcester Greenstar boiler and hot water cylinder as well as providing useful space for storing garden furniture. The cellar is also alarmed.

Houses of this stature and size are rare to the open market. The unique setting in private gardens, so close to the city centre, offers the perfect family environment to let children run free and experience a quality of life not normally associated with city centre living.

The property is a short stroll from Fiveways where there is a selection of local independent shops. These include a greengrocer, butcher, Store (a zero-waste shop), a delicatessen, gift shop, and Preloved of Brighton (selling pre-loved fashion). There is also a small Co-op supermarket, the Fiveways pub, various eateries and takeaways and a specialist wine shop. The house is a short walk from the extremely popular Downs Infant and Junior schools and in the catchment area for Dorothy Stringer and Varndean secondary schools, both of which are very highly regarded. The Cleveland Arms on the west side of Blakers Park is your award-winning local, serving delicious food, prepared with locally sourced ingredients, seven days a week. On Ditchling Road, there is a choice of buses that run regularly into town. London Road station is a ten-minute walk, from where Southern services run into Brighton, or north towards Lewes, with connecting services to London. Preston Park Station Station is a fifteen-minute walk, from where Southern services run direct to London.

Council Tax Band: D
Tenure: Freehold