Elwick Road

The Grand Tour

Set back from the road behind electric gates and approached via a rolling drive, the house unfolds in all its glory. The façade is built from red brick and local sandstone, with mullion windows, a turret and other eclectic features borrowed from various architectural styles. Entry is through a stooped Gothic arch atop a broad flight of steps at the base of the central tower.

The main hall is entered via a screened porch, which is glazed with stained glass depicting Hellenistic motifs and the original owners’ crest. An imposing space, the hall is double-height with a galleried landing and a glazed lantern above. Replete with architectural details, it has intricate cornicing, overhead door mouldings with entablature, and original brass door plates and handles that continue throughout. A unique fireplace portrays the arts and commerce in the form of two classical figures, both cast in brass.

To the side of the hall is the drawing room, with dual-aspect windows that overlook the grounds. A grand entertaining space, the room has a Tudor revival ceiling with wonderfully deep plasterwork. A vast bay window is topped with stained glass representing poets and authors (Milton, Shakespeare, Chaucer and burns), as are the two French doors leading to the garden. An intricate parquet floor runs throughout the ground floor, made from a mixture of English oak and exotic hardwoods.

Adjacent to the reception is the equally impressive and bright dining room. A veneered fireplace adds a focal point to the room, while original cast iron radiators have been sensitively restored by the current owners. Three, floor-to-ceiling glazed doors also open to the gardens. The dining room leads to a small study in the base of the turret, with stained glass portraying Calliope, Clio and Thalia, among other Greek Muses.

The kitchen sits at the heart of the home. A large cast iron range with a working fire is at the end of the space, while a bespoke shaker kitchen occupies the main portion of the room. Finished in a dusky shade of green by Farrow and Ball, the cabinets are topped with a mixture of solid walnut and granite worktops. There is a vast island with double butler sinks, an integrated dishwasher and four integrated ovens. Adjacent is a laundry and utility room, with fitted cabinetry, Belfast sink and stone flooring.

There is an original Victorian washroom on the ground floor, with decorative tiles and flooring, vanity and WC. There is also a large cloakroom and a storeroom on this level.

Ascending to the first floor via a fine mahogany and teak staircase, there are expanses of stained glass fitted in a stone mullion window; the glazing depicts the zodiac signs and represents morning, noon and night, casting filtered coloured light onto the staircase and upper landing.

The primary bedroom suite occupies a prominent, west-facing corner of the plan. Finished in a rich, ‘Book Room Red’ by Farrow and Ball, the space has a walnut veneered fireplace and bespoke fitted cabinetry. The en suite sits in the upper portion of the turret, and has a roll-top bath, vanity and WC. Adjacent is a secondary suite, currently used as a guest bedroom; finished with a wonderful red chintz wallpaper, the room has dual aspect windows overlooking the grounds and a large dressing room. Completing the first floor plan are a third bedroom with an en suite and a large family bathroom.

The second floor of the house was originally used as servants’ accommodation. Now arranged as three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the floor has a unique self-contained space in the tower, with kitchenette, reception room, bedroom and bathroom.

A large cellar with three rooms is accessed via an external staircase.

The Great Outdoors

Spanning over an acre, the grounds of the house are beautifully maintained. Bordered by well established specimen trees, a rolling lawn wraps around three sides of the house. Several patio areas have been designated for outdoor entertaining in warmer months, which are bordered by fragrant flower beds. There is a large parking area to the rear which can easily accommodate 4-6 cars, accessed via a private drive and a set of electric gates.

Out and About

Located in the leafy suburb of West Park, just on the outskirts of Hartlepool, the house sits opposite Ward Jackson Park; a bucolic, 17-acre site named after Ralph Ward Jackson, a local industrialist, who founded West Hartlepool in the 19th century. The house served by nearby West Park Primary School and High Tunstall Secondary School.

Wonderfully located, the house is a 7-minute drive from Hartlepool station, which offers services between Newcastle and Middlesbrough. There are also direct trains to London King’s Cross in a little over 3 hours. Durham Tees Valley Airport is a 30-minute drive away, and Newcastle Airport some 60-minutes.

Council Tax Band: G