Cotham Vale, Bristol, Somerset

This three-bedroom Grade II-listed terrace house is a fine example of Georgian architecture in Bristol’s Cotham and Redland Conservation Area. Unfolding behind an elegant 18th-century façade, the house spans 2,000 sq ft over five storeys, where light pours in through sash windows to illuminate original carved fireplaces, niches and decorative moulding. Gardens at the front and the rear of the house are lush with rambling roses, magnolia and clematis. An abundance of independent shops, grocers and cafés on Cotham Hill are within a few minutes’ walk from the house, as are local train stations with services to Temple Meads, from which trains run to London in just over an hour and a half.

Setting the Scene

The area of Cotham was largely laid to pasture until the middle of the 18th century, when small groups of houses emerged on hilltop sites, surrounded by deep valleys and grasslands.

The development of Cotham Vale, which follows a historic route along field boundaries, began in the late 18th century and continued throughout the decades that followed. The resulting streetscape is characterised by a collection of late Georgian villas and Victorian terraces with facades of Pennant sandstone and traditional Bath limestone. For more information, please see the History section.

The Grand Tour

Entry to the house is from a front patio planted with fragrant honeysuckle and a ‘Buff Beauty’ rose. The front door is beneath a pedimented surround and is topped with an original arched petal fanlight. Behind is a timber-panelled hallway adorned with moulded arches, where walls are painted in ‘Oxford Stone’ by Farrow and Ball.

An original six-panelled door opens to the sitting room at the front of the plan. The elegantly proportioned room is finished with ‘French Grey’ by Farrow & Ball, and original boards of stained pine run underfoot. Light is drawn in through the panes of an eight-over-eight sash window fitted with embrasure shutters. At one side of the room, an open fireplace sits within an 18th-century fluted surround with carved rosette corner blocks. Walls are lined with bespoke bookshelves that stand neatly around a round-headed niche.

At the rear is a second reception room, currently used as a library. This room (a later addition by the current owners of the house) makes use of reclaimed pine floorboards, moulded cornicing and gentle curves that mimic the Georgian character of the building. Expansive curved bay windows extend towards the garden, and a seat looking over the magnolia and greengage trees makes a lovely spot for some reading. A pair of doors crowned with an original fanlight opens from the library to the study. Here, an intricately decorated cast iron fireplace is flanked by arched alcoves, ideal for displaying a vase of cut flowers or a favourite piece of art. A handy WC also opens from the library.

From the hallway, a staircase with weathered pine treads descends to the lower ground floor where there is the dining room and the kitchen. The dining room has a warm and inviting feel, with heavy flagstone floors underfoot, rich timber-panelled walls, and a large open fireplace. French doors opening to the front patio can be closed with timber shutters, making the room perfect for hosting friends for wine and cheese by the firelight. To the right of the room is a vaulted storage room that would make an excellent wine cellar. The kitchen opens from the dining room and there is a pantry for keeping dry ingredients and conserves.

The staircase rises past an impressive arched window with views over the leafy garden to the first floor where there are two double bedrooms arranged around a landing. The bedroom to the front of the plan is finished in ‘Cornforth White’ by Farrow & Ball, and fitted with deep built-in cupboards, bookcases and a shelf for records. The bedroom to the rear also has excellent storage, as well as a small en suite.

Upstairs is a further double bedroom and a family bathroom, and a staircase leads to the loft room on the third floor.

The Great Outdoors

A stepped garden with original stone walls and painted iron fences extends from the rear of the house. The garden is planted with mature apple, fig, greengage, mirabelle and hazelnut trees and a wonderfully fragrant magnolia grandiflora. Wild strawberries, burkwood viburnums, daphnes and rambling ‘Wedding Day’ and ‘Felicite e Perpetue’ rose varieties weave themselves along the terraces. In the middle of the garden is a stone-rimmed pond that attracts birds and wildlife, complete with a sculpture, ‘The Three Graces’, by Charles Mason. Behind the pond is a summerhouse surrounded by established plantings that would make a lovely office space.

The patio at the front of the house is brimming with clematis montana, honeysuckle and rose, and ‘Winter Gem’ bush that blooms each winter with pretty white flowers and a strong, sweet scent.

Out and About

Cotham has a myriad of cafés and independent shops, many of which are found on Cotham Hill, a five-minute walk from the house. Here, 1B Pitville is known for its filter coffee, while Fed is perfect for a caffeine and cake break. For fresh produce, there is Cotham Fruits and Vegetables, their array of goods spilling onto the corner outside. For wine there is Corks of Cotham, and just around the corner Ruby and White butchers offers a range of meats, charcuterie and cheeses.

For the culinary minded there are plenty of options within walking distance; Elia Bar Café serves delicious Greek food. Wilsons, a small, independently owned and run farm-to-table restaurant cultivates its own market garden where the vast majority of the vegetables, herbs and flowers on the menu are grown. Bulrush offers tasting menus made with locally sourced and foraged ingredients.

For days out in the sun, Clifton Downs is approximately a 25-minute walk from the house. Cotham Gardens is nearby, ideal for walking the dog, relaxing on a park bench with a good book, or taking a stroll along the oak-lined and lamp-lit Lovers’ Walk. For more outdoor pursuits, Bristol Lido is a 15-minute walk away.

Well-served for cultural activities and annual festivals, the city has a thriving art and music scene, with Arnolfini and Spike Island leading a well-regarded annual programme of contemporary exhibitions and performances. The Watershed, a much-loved institution located along the harbourside, hosts talks and events alongside a programme of independent film screenings. Many of Bristol’s industrial buildings have been converted into theatres, bars and venues. The most renowned is the Tobacco Factory, which houses a restaurant, theatre, brewery and other facilities.

There is a good selection of schools in the area, including Bristol Grammar School which is a 15-minute walk from the house, and Clifton College Preparatory and Upper School, just over a 20-minutes walk away. Cotham Gardens Primary School, St Johns Church of England Primary and St Peter and Paul Primary School are all within short walking distance.

The intercity rail service is easily accessed from Clifton Downs station and Redlands station (both a 10-minute walk from the house), providing a direct route to Temple Meads. The UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath is a short 15-minute train journey from Temple Meads or about a 40-minute drive. Rail connections to London are excellent, with direct services from Temple Meads to Paddington in less than two hours. Bristol is also incredibly well-placed for easy access to the surrounding countryside and the Devon and Dorset coastlines. The city’s busy International Airport is reachable by car or bus in around 40 minutes.

Council Tax Band: E