Location

The popular coastal town of Broadstairs, on the Isle of Thanet, is known as the Jewel in Thanet's Crown and also has the Latin motto of Stella Maris, meaning Star of the Sea. In Victorian times, Charles Dickens was a frequent visitor to Broadstairs, where he had a summer residence, known as Bleak House, and it was here that he is said to have written David Copperfield. John Buchan also resided here for a time, and some believe that his book, The Thirty Nine Steps, was named after the set of steps that lead to the beach from North Foreland Estate. Of further interest is North Foreland Lighthouse.

Botany Bay (about 0.3 of a mile) is believed to be one the most beautiful 'secret beaches' in the UK, it is located between Broadstairs and Margate on the famous Viking Coastal path, enabling scenic bike rides and walks. Together with its sandy beaches, Broadstairs has much to offer, there are art galleries, The Dickens House Museum, a good selection of shops and restaurants, together with leisure facilities including North Foreland Golf Club and Thanet Squash Raquets Club. Festivals throughout the year include The Dickens Festival and the Broadstairs Food Festival.

Broadstairs station (1.5 miles) has services to London St Pancras in approximately 120 minutes.

There is a range of schools in the area including St Mildred's Primary School, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Dane Court and Chatham and Clarendon Grammar Schools and various independent schools in Canterbury and the surrounding areas.

*All mileages and distances are approximate

Description

Located within close proximity to the iconic Botany Bay, "Fitzroy Lodge" 71 Fitzroy Avenue is a most impressive Lutyens-style seaside property, built in the early Edwardian period and retaining its traditional carriage driveway. We understand that it was commissioned for William Capel Slaughter of global law firm, Slaughter and May, who together with Lord Avebury was responsible for founding the adjacent links North Foreland Golf Club in 1903. The house is conveniently located between Broadstairs and Margate, and is adjacent to the clifftops of Botany Bay along the Viking coastal path.   

The property has been extensively restored and sympathetically updated by the current owners retaining the historic integrity whilst incorporating accommodation that has been finished to a high specification with air conditioning and pressurised water systems. It offers a wealth of period features with well proportioned rooms, some having double or triple aspect outlooks, oak panelling to most rooms, oak doors, leaded light windows, stained glass windows, stone fireplaces, bespoke (double glazed) Heritage windows frames and cast-iron radiators. A distinct historical feature is the backplate to the stone fireplace of the snug, commemorating Elizabeth I's victory over the Spanish Armada in 1588.   

The internal accommodation comprises; an imposing part panelled, double height entrance hall with stone fireplace, a captivating stained glass window and an oak staircase rising up to the first floor with galleried landing; the bespoke fitted kitchen/breakfast room features pale grey and white units, a central island with marble worktops and Belfast sink. Appliances include a Lacanche range cooker, two Bosch dishwashers, a full height fridge and freezer and wine fridge. Two sets of bifold doors lead to the garden terrace.

Receptions include a well proportioned dining room with glass doors to the garden and half wall panelling, a cosy snug, a family room, an impressive triple aspect sitting room with another historic fireplace and French doors opening to a light garden room. Completing the ground floor are two guest WCs.

On the first floor the galleried landing leads to the principal suite and the second bedroom. The triple aspect suite having views over the garden, provides a bedroom area with fitted wardrobes. The en suite bathroom has tongue and groove panelling, a roll top bath with claw feet, double vanity basin unit, WC and monsoon shower cubicle. Three of the remaining five bedrooms have their own en suite bath/shower rooms with a separate marble clad shower room serving the other two bedrooms. There is an additional upstairs guest WC. The bathrooms are fitted with high quality sanitary ware.   

71 Fitzroy Avenue is approached through electric privacy gates or a separate keypad operated pedestrian gate, to a generous carriage drive and detached double garage. The York stone terrace extends to the full width of the house and leads onto sheltered landscaped gardens with its array of Gertrude Jekyll-style planting including exotiic trees and shrubs. The garden has been undergoing a 10 year restoration programme to rejuvenate the original planting. A stone fountain provides a magical central feature and the house and garden enjoy both external lighting and 'up lighting' in the trees, all of which are currently on a dawn to dusk timer.   

The current vendor has installed a pet pen/run constructed by a professional zoo company and allowing for outside play, whilst the garden is also fully fenced.

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