1930s Mark Hartland Thomas modern house in Sneyd Park, Bristol
Wonderful architecture and a spectacular setting. This 1930s Mark Hartland Thomas modern house in Sneyd Park, Bristol, is now on the market.
No, it doesn’t come cheap, and what would it be? Sitting on the cliff tops of Sneyd Park, with stunning views of Leigh Woods and Brunel’s suspension bridge in the distance. This a massive selling point before we even get to the house, which is on the market for the first time in 55 years.
And the house is every bit as spectacular. Updated over the years, but this kind of house translates well into the 21st century. Modern almost a century ago, it is still as contemporary as almost anything else on the market today.
It is hard to imagine that this house was built between 1934 and 1935, the work of architect Mark Hartland Thomas, and one of only two known commissions that Hartland Thomas completed in partnership with his father, Bristol architect Percival Hartland Thomas.
It’s a clever design, too. If you are going to build a house in this location, you need to make the most of the views. With that in mind, the house has been designed to ensure that those views are enjoyed by all the principal accommodation, including the sitting room, dining room, two larger bedrooms, and sun studio, all of which are positioned on the south elevation of the property.
On the north elevation, the kitchen, bathrooms, secondary bedrooms, and garage overlook the front garden, drive and hedgerow boundary wall.
Note the open-plan hallway and sitting room, with that impressive wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling glass, allowing light to pour into the space while perfectly framing the views in the distance. This space features a double-height entrance hall with a straight staircase leading up to a first-floor galleried landing.
Between the hall and the sitting room are the original folding doors. The sitting room includes original oak shelves and cupboards, along with a small study space with integrated shelving and a desk.
The kitchen has been updated in recent years to include gas hobs, electric ovens, wall and floor-mounted cupboards, and drawer storage, but it does retain its original larders.
The first floor comprises four bedrooms, a family bathroom, and a principal suite with a dressing room and an en-suite bathroom.
Stairs lead to the sun studio, which features floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall glazed windows for triple-aspect views. A glazed door accesses the roof, where there are currently ten solar panels installed.
Head to the outside proper, and you will notice the large and private south-facing garden, which is tiered over four to five levels before opening up into woodland. Also present are a paved outdoor terrace, a gently sloping lawn with manicured gardens, a greenhouse, and ‘ample room for a pool and sizeable allotments’ subject to consent.
You also get off-street parking for two vehicles as well as an attached double garage.
Quite something, and, of course, a house that’s rare on the market. It might have a high price tag, but I suspect there won’t be a shortage of interest. The guide price is £2,100,000.
Images and details courtesy of Rupert Oliver. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
