2 Holmhurst St Mary, The Ridge, St Leonards On Sea TN37

Architecture and Interior
Converted around twenty years ago to create seven separate homes from the Grade II Listed mansion, Number 2 Holmhurst St Mary keeps its grandeur yet offers a comfortable family home. An unassuming front door leads to a pretty inner lobby with double doors into the inner hallway which runs the length of the ground floor. Two coat and shoe storage cupboards ensure that the hallway can be kept clutter free. A large kitchen with French doors to the garden in turn opens into the beautiful sitting room with double doors allowing the cook to be left undisturbed if preferred. The sitting room also has two very pretty French doors which open to the south facing terrace and the large garden beyond. A feature fireplace with original Delft tiles offers a further focal point for this elegant room.

From the hallway is the good-sized utility room with plenty of storage and washing machine and dryer and a separate downstairs loo with hand basin. Both are decorated in contemporary colours and stylish tiling. At the end of the impressive hallway the current owners have created a snug or reading area. The cellar door opens from a recessed storage area in the hallway and is currently used for wine storage and a home gym.

The stairs echo the grandeur of the past incarnation of the property while being in scale to the current house.

The first-floor landing has a generous width to it and houses a run of large linen and storage cupboards. There is a certain magic in stepping through what look like further storage doors into the first bedroom. Three of the five bedrooms overlook the garden and have distant views towards the sea. All three bedrooms are good-sized double bedrooms. The fourth bedroom on this floor is currently used as a study and has views across the front drive of the property to the countryside and another section of the coastline beyond. A large bathroom on this floor has been completely refurbished with a stylish walk-in shower, full sized whirlpool spa” bath, hand basin and loo which has been elevated with contemporary lighting, stylish wall and floor tiles.

Taking the stairs to the second floor, there is a spacious bedroom with en-suite shower room and extensive eaves storage spaces on three sides. Dormer windows fill the room with light.

The garden is a real surprise – enclosed on one side with a lovely old stone wall and extending to close to 150’, this south-facing garden is both a rarity and a wonderful haven. To the front of the property are electronic gates which open to a gravelled area for parking with each resident having allocated spaces. The parking is interspersed with planting to soften the landscaping.

History
Famed Victorian travel writer and botanist Augustus Hare had seen the world before he decided to build his home on The Ridge in Hastings. He chose well. The mansion has far -reaching views to the sea and to the other direction across rolling Sussex countryside. Having brought joy to Augustus Hare, then fallen into disrepair after his death, the house was converted into a convent school for girls: Joanna Lumley was amongst the pupils who’ve lived and studied here. She describes herself as having been “as happy as a clam” while she was at Holmhurst.

In the Neighbourhood
Holmhurst St Mary is in a unique elevated position with marvellous views yet close to the centre of Hastings and the seafront. Ten minutes’ drive to Battle Station – shaving valuable time off the journey to London for commuters in comparison with the train journey from Hastings. The house is also close to the Conquest Hospital. Close by is the expansive area of St Helen’s Wood which is a great place for dog walking or picnics.

The countryside of Sussex is within easy access with riding, wild swimming and outstanding walking all within a few minutes of this unique home.

Transport & Connections
Battle and Hastings Stations link to London Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Bridge. There is a second train line from Hastings which links into Victoria. Trains can also be taken to Ashford International from where there is a high-speed link to St Pancras International. Bus routes run along The Ridge linking the house to the town.

Material Information 

• Freehold with applicable Estate Charges. All residents are a part of the St Marys Residents Association. Service charges for the Association are around £500 per annum and cover charges for communal gardens, parking areas, lighting, electric gates.
• The roof above each home is the responsibility of the individual homeowner.
• Property construction: Stone with slate roof
• Utilities: Gas, Electricity, Water Supply, Broadband
• Gas Supply & Electricity Supply: Independently supplied by EDF Energy
• Water supply & Sewerage: Mains connected with Southern Water
• Broadband: Standard Download speed 13Mbps; Upload speed 1Mbps; Ultrafast available. (d/s 1000Mbps; u/s 1000Mbps) Source: Ofcom 
• Mobile signal/coverage: Likely good exterior cover on all major networks, variable internal cover linked to EE and Three. Source: Ofcom
• Restrictions: Grade II listed – Listing no. 1043422
• Flood risk: Very low risk of any type of flooding  Source: Gov.uk
• Coastal erosion risk: None.  Source: Coastal Erosion Risks
• Planning permission: None known at time of listing. Source: Gov.uk planning decisions
• Coalfield or mining area:  No.  Source:  The Coal Authority
• Flight path: Yes, though may not always be direct.  FlightRadar24

All residents are part of the St Marys Residents Association. Service charges for the Association are around £500 per annum and cover charges for landscaping borders, parking areas, lighting, electric gates. The roof above each home is the responsibility of the individual homeowner.

EPC rating: D. Tenure: Freehold, Service charge description: Estate charges covers for communal gardens, parking areas, lighting, electric gates. , Mobile signal information: Likely good exterior cover on all major networks, variable internal cover linked to EE and Three. Source: Ofcom