“A peaceful late-18th-century home with sweeping coastal vistas”
“A peaceful late-18th-century home with sweeping coastal vistas”
Stunningly situated among the historic hillside of Hastings’ Old Town, this Grade II-listed house sits moments from the harbour and the sea. Cobourg Place was built around the late 18th century and retains a wealth of period details across two storeys, including fireplaces, exposed floorboards, and a later Victorian canted bay window. Set within the coveted West Hill, its elevated position presents superb views over the English Channel.
Setting the Scene
The slopes of the West Hill were part of an area originally known as ‘Coney Banks’ or ‘Bakers Hill’ before the Victorian development of the Old Town, celebrated for its far-reaching outlooks. This end-of-terrace house is locally protected for its architectural heritage within the town’s wider historic fabric. Cobourg Place presents a beautiful double-fronted façade of distinctive weatherboard cladding, with a parapet concealing the original tiled roof. Sash windows and a two-storey canted bay with a moulded cornice introduce the series of bright spaces that unfold beyond, while a central doorway with a coved cornice and rectangular fanlight forms the entrance.
The Grand Tour
A wrought-iron gate opens from a quiet twitten into a lush private front courtyard.
The entrance hall gives a first glimpse into the home’s characterful atmosphere: the original timber staircase rises to a galleried landing above, painted in the same mushroom-grey tone as the period floorboards underfoot.
To the right of the hall, a wonderfully bright kitchen is centred on an original, white-painted brick chimneybreast that houses a modern range cooker. Contemporary, clean-lined cabinets are painted in tonal shades of beige and provide plenty of storage. A painted tongue-and-groove splashback wall matches the cabinetry, and exposed beams hang overhead.
Conveniently placed, a newer utility extension sits adjacent beneath a reeded glass roof and leads out to the rear garden.
Opposite, an extraordinary room is arranged as a sitting room and study area. A marble mantlepiece frames a wood-burner, while pale-blue-painted timber walls emulate the home’s frontage and the coastal setting. Meanwhile, the south-facing bay window bathes the room in natural light.
Ascending to the first floor, a spacious sitting room is at the back and opens onto a leafy, secluded courtyard garden. The palette is kept deliberately simple to allow the draping greenery at the windows to take precedence. Decorative elements have been retained, including carved-wood columns and a period fireplace.
Two bright double bedrooms are accessed from the landing, fitted with built-in storage cupboards.
A well-appointed bathroom sits next door, with a fitted shower over the bath, dark-stained floorboards, and timber cladding painted in the same shade as the bedrooms.
The Great Outdoors
The house has two peaceful courtyard gardens, at the front and the rear. Established climbers and mature trees lend a secluded setting, while perennial flowers and Mediterranean plants add a personal touch. A paved seating area at the front of the house provides sublime views upon which to while away time.
Out and About
Hastings is a thriving town, home to some legendary antique traders and independent retailers. Art galleries are likewise abundant; the most significant is perhaps Hastings Contemporary (formerly the Jerwood Gallery) designed by HAT Projects, though there are many others of note, including The Rebel Gallery and the Museum and Art Gallery.
An ever-growing number of restaurants are boosting Hastings’ gastronomic reputation, including Bayte (run by the team behind Petersham Nurseries in Richmond), Coquina (above the Hastings Contemporary), and Dora’s pizzas. This is a town rich in culture, preparing to host the locally led Hastings Year of Culture in 2028. Hastings is a brilliant foothold to explore St Leonard’s, Rye, Camber and Dungeness, all easily reached by car.
Hastings Station is a 19-minute walk from the house, with frequent services to London Bridge, London Victoria, and London Charing Cross in about an hour and a half.
Council Tax Band: C
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