~ For Sale - Guide Price of £600,000-£650,000 | Please Quote BM1083 (Ben Morris Bespoke Coastal Property)
~ Nelson Place, Broadstairs, CT10 1HQ
~ Freehold | Three Bedrooms | One Bathroom | Separate WC | South-West Facing Garden

This fine Regency-era townhouse, dating from the early 19th century, is characterised by its elegant proportions, brick elevations, sash windows and restrained classical detailing. Anchor Cottage forms the centrepiece of the Georgian terrace that makes up Nelson Place in Broadstairs.

Set within the Broadstairs Conservation Area, Nelson Place is one of the earliest residential developments in the town and is widely regarded as one of its most important historic rows. This three-bedroom house of approximately 1,200 sq ft has been beautifully preserved, with many original features still intact, including box sash windows and period chimneypieces.

Incredibly peaceful for such a central setting, the house looks out towards Rectory Road to the front and enjoys a delightful south-west facing courtyard garden to the rear.

Context
Broadstairs has long been associated with literature, leisure and the rituals of seaside retreat. By the early 19th century, the town had emerged as a fashionable coastal destination, favoured by London families seeking sea air, bathing and respite from the city. Its development during the Regency period coincided with a broader cultural fascination with the coast as a place of health, reflection and social life.

Most famously, Charles Dickens maintained a deep personal connection with Broadstairs, returning regularly from the 1830s onwards. He wrote parts of David Copperfield here, drawing inspiration from the town’s cliffs, bays and intimate streets. His presence cemented Broadstairs’ reputation as a place of creativity and retreat, a character that remains central to its identity today.

The town also welcomed members of the aristocracy and royalty during the 19th century, drawn by its sheltered bays and genteel atmosphere. Queen Victoria is known to have visited the area, while its proximity to London made it a convenient and desirable destination for seasonal occupation. Streets such as Nelson Place form part of this early Regency expansion, characterised by ordered terraces, classical proportions and a quiet confidence that distinguished Broadstairs from larger resort towns.

Today, Broadstairs retains this layered character: literary, historic and distinctly residential, with a walkable scale and a strong sense of continuity between its architectural past and present-day coastal life.

 
The House
Set back from the pavement behind a low flint and brick wall, the house occupies a central position within the terrace. Rising four storeys and a single bay in width, the principal elevation is left unrendered, with London stock brick across all levels. Box sash windows punctuate the façade, while an elegant round-headed entrance provides a strong architectural focal point.

The entrance hall retains its original Georgian pine floorboards, a feature that continues throughout much of the upper storeys, while the raised ground, first and second floors are warmed by cast-iron radiators. Doorcases are detailed with period architraves and fitted with six-panel doors in the original Georgian style.

An elegant bipartite reception room occupies the front of the raised ground floor, with windows to both north-east and south-west aspects, allowing light to move through the space across the day. An exposed red-brick chimneypiece anchors the forward section of the room. A WC is positioned to the rear of this level.

The lower-ground floor extends across the full footprint of the house, creating a notably generous and open-feeling level. Here, the kitchen and breakfast room is fitted with underfloor heating and a classic-style range cooker. A single door opens directly onto the south-west-facing courtyard garden, which benefits from rear access and incorporates an outdoor shower - a practical and evocative addition in a coastal setting. A brick-built storage shed is also integrated into the main structure.

The first floor is home to the principal bedroom, one of the finest rooms in the house. Broad in proportion, it features a charming bullseye chimneypiece and a trio of tall box sash windows set within a shallow bay, framing views towards Stone Bay. Also on this floor is a large, light-filled family bathroom, accessed from the stairwell and fitted with a roll-top bath and walk-in shower.

The uppermost storey contains two further bedrooms, both well-proportioned, along with excellent storage on the landing and within the loft space above.