Friday 12 August 2022

Westcliffe Terrace, Seaton, Devon



Situated upon the top of the Chine, which cuts down to the beach at the western end of West Walk, this delightful terrace was built in the late Georgian and early Victorian style during the mid 19th century.


A Grade II Listed Building, it comprises eight houses consisting of three storeys plus attic and basement - now split up into flats - with bay windows on the ground and first floors.



I love the Georgian style bay windows; shallower than more modern ones, they also have the most delightful curved glass panes.

The basement flats have access to lovely small courtyards, which some have made into pretty gardens with potted plants and seating areas. I knew someone who lived in one of the basement flats and they are quite roomy and with the addition of the outdoor space are somewhere I'd quite like to live.




Overlooking the Chine and the sea, you can't see much of the sea from the top, and the photo below shows the view from just partway up. The view from some of the higher windows might be more extensive and dramatic, although there are some very tall trees obscuring the view.

There is a nice little nook with a picnic table though, with sight of the sea through the trees.


Whilst visiting some friends who lived on the top, attic floor - I knew several people who lived here over the years, lol - I was suddenly startled by movement outside the windows. In a split second I thought that it was someone peeping in yet realising at the same time that we were too high up. The others laughed and said they'd been caught out like that when they first moved in, and that in fact it was seagulls and pigeons roosting and walking about on the parapet just outside the window.

Like many buildings of this era, the terrace looks quite different at the rear. There are still bay windows but, although the sides are plastered and painted to match the front, the rest shows the exposed red brick faded to a lovely orange.



One of the things I really like is the wall to the rear courtyards as it bends around the swerve in the road. 
 



The additional buildings to the rear also contrast nicely with their white painted walls. I don't know if they were part of the original design, or if they were built during conversion to flats.


And here's just two more photos taken from across the opposite side of the Chine, in Cliff Field.


And another one from the path to finish off with. :)


 

 

 

 

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