Chapel Place, Ramsgate, Kent

This wonderful Grade II-listed, late Georgian home sits near the centre of Ramsgate, close to the beach and the town’s railway station. At the rear are two large, interconnected gardens, with plenty of space for growing and for hosting long summer lunches. A wealth of period features remain inside, including an atmospheric scullery, broad flagstone floors and original wall panelling.



Setting the Scene



Set on the eastern coast of Thanet, Ramsgate is a limb of the Cinque Port town of Sandwich. Its heritage dates back to the medieval period, but it developed into the town it is today following the completion of Ramsgate Harbour in c.1850. This spurred its emergence as a popular seaside resort with a plethora of guest houses, restaurants, and a long promenade.



The house forms part of a larger network of military buildings, constructed around 1820 and visible on Collard and Hurst’s 1822 plan of Ramsgate. In the 1920s, this home was a surveyor's office: glazed doors to the entrance vestibule and sitting room retain the impressive lettering from this period. It was run by the same family and continued operations until the 1990s.



The Grand Tour



Built using a richly coloured brick and with five-over-five sash windows, this home sits mid-terrace, with a grey-painted door set beneath a fanlight and round-headed case. Entry is to a broad entrance hall, with the dining room on the left. This is a bright, south-facing space, with sage-painted walls, original panelling and deep-brown floorboards. The latter half of the room is used as a sitting area, orientated towards a log-burning fire.



From the entrance hall is a second internal corridor with a door to the kitchen. A characterful space, it is fitted with cream-coloured cabinets, an electric Aga, and retains its original brick floors. This room leads through to the scullery, an evocative room where an original fireplace, sash window and a 19th-century washing drum remain. On one side, a door opens to the garden.



A snug, or an en suite guest room, sits opposite the kitchen, next to an impressive staircase that winds through the core of the house. On the first floor is a sitting room, a traditional Georgian piano nobile configuration. An impressive room of generous proportions, it provides access (via a hidden door in a wall of bookshelves) to an adjacent study.



There are two en suite bedrooms on the first floor, with three more upstairs. The principal suite is on the top floor and has a luxurious en suite/Jack-and-Jill bathroom with a roll-top bath as well as an adjacent dressing room, fitted with built-in, turquoise-and-gold-painted wardrobes.



The Great Outdoors



A remarkably large space for central Ramsgate, the gardens at the rear of the house have an enchanting feel. The first half is the setting for a large dining terrace, in front of a lawned area perfect for summertime playing.



Beyond is a gate that opens to a large area currently used for growing fruit and vegetables. Raised beds provide excellent self-sufficiency prospects. A large olive tree waves in the coastal breeze, and brick-laid paths make for ideal reading spots.



Out and About



Ramsgate has an excellent cultural and music scene, with a variety of independent shops, restaurants and cafés. Local favourites include Flavours by Kumar, the Falstaff Hotel and the Dining Rooms at Albion House. Sundowners are a must at the Royal Harbour Brassiere, located at the end of the harbour arm, both of which command fabulous sea views.



The Union Café serves as a yoga studio and is an excellent spot for lunch, while Staple does amazing coffee, sourdough and pastries. Amenities locally are excellent and include a Waitrose a minute's walk away.



It’s under an hour’s walk along the coast to Broadstairs, which has also enjoyed a palpable resurgence in recent years. The town has a thriving community of independent shops and restaurants, including the renowned seafood spot Wyatt and Jones. The Funicular Coffeehouse is built into the old ticket office of a long-decommissioned clifftop funicular. The old town itself remains a haven of antique shops and cafés, and Morelli’s ice cream parlour is a wonderfully over-the-top institution on the seafront.



Margate is also close by and is home to the internationally renowned Turner Contemporary, along with the recently restored Dreamland amusement park and Tracey Emin's TKE Studios. Head towards Sandwich for Delf Farm Shop, which sells locally grown produce. Picturesque Deal is home to a brilliant culinary scene and a handful of excellent independent boutiques.



Several golf clubs are nearby, including a world top 100 course, Royal St George's Golf Club in Sandwich. Closer to home are two lovely parks within a five-minute walk, along with Ramsgate Sands and Western Undercliff for a vibrant sea swimming community.



There are some excellent schools nearby, including St Lawrence College (an eight-minute walk away), Wellesey School, and three grammar schools within five miles of the house: Dane Court, Sir Roger Manwood's, and Chatham and Clarendon.



Ramsgate is well connected to the rest of Thanet by train and road, meaning that Margate, Deal and Canterbury can all be accessed in under 30 minutes. Regular connections to London are provided by train from St Pancras and London Victoria and arrive in the city in as little as 77 minutes, while trains to Canterbury take around 20 minutes. Dover, the gateway to mainland Europe, can be reached in half an hour by car.



Council Tax Band: D