ACCESS STATEMENT FOR THE BEACH HOUSE, 4 MEADOWFIELDS, SANDSEND YO21 3SX
Introduction
The Beach House is the 2nd house on the right hand side of Meadowfields which is the road opposite the beachside Sandsend Café, just off the road to Whitby.
It is a rendered dwelling arranged over three floors – ground level, lower ground and a first floor. The property was build in the 1920s and has all the original features of considerable charm including beamed ceilings, an Art Nouveau fireplace in the dining room and wooden staircase/banister with motifs.
It is believed that at the turn of the 20th century a local architect and builder had a wager to see how many properties they could build on the plot of land, with all having sea views – this has given a charming group of houses with stunning beach and sea views from virtually all the windows. It is also believed that the motifs carved out of the staircase and banisters, which includes hearts and clubs, reflect this bet from nearly a century ago.
The property is conveniently located close to a bus stop and Sandsend’s many amenities – cafes, local inn, restaurant, shops, art gallery, and doctor’s surgery.
Transport to Whitby and Runswick Bay
There is a main bus route, with the bus stop a few hundred yards from the property.
Arrival
There is no dedicated parking for the property but plenty of on-street parking.
The Beach House
There are four external steps leading up to the property to the front with a substantial wooden handrail. There is a covered area, a small porch, over the front door.
The accommodation is arranged over three floors with living accommodation – sitting room/library area, dining room and cloaks/WC - on the ground floor; there are 8 steps to the lower ground floor which houses the kitchen, breakfast room, shower room, laundry/utility room and rear hall; and three bedrooms and house bathroom on the 1st floor which is up 12 steps.
To the rear is a decked garden with the back door on ground level.
Lower Ground Level
There is an entrance hall which leads to the back decked garden which is on one level with a seat, potted plants and lovely sea views.
Kitchen The kitchen contains a dishwasher, fridge, microwave and a large range with a gas oven and hob and electric grill. The smaller appliances also include a juicer and coffee making machine. The adjoining breakfast room has table and chair to seat six people. It is fully equipped with high quality china, glassware, cutlery and cooking implements for the self catering of six people.
There is a music centre in the breakfast room which acts as an I-Pod docking station and will charge I-Phones; there is an occasional chair by the window, which has sweeping sea views across the bay.
Laundry Room/Utility There is a freezer plus a washing machine and dryer plus a clothes airer. There is also a large Belfast sink, ideal for rinsing off sandy swimwear.
This room also has hooks for coats, stores all the beach equipment – chairs, rug, buckets, spades, board, dingy – plus cleaning equipment (obviously we have a housekeeper that comes in weekly but you may wish to access these cleaning products during your stay.) The central heating boiler is in this room with the controls just outside in the hallway. (Most things are self-explanatory but full instructions for the heating are in the Information Book; instructions for all appliances in the Appliances file.)
Shower room A luxury walk in shower room with hand basin, large shower and heated towel rail. Tiled in limestone, the floor has underfloor heating which is on a timer but can be put onto constant via the switch in the next door laundry/utility room at eye level by the door.
Ground Floor
Sitting Room The sitting room contains a three seater sofa, a two seater sofa, an upholstered stool plus a leather armchair with occasional tables.
There is a wall-mounted flat TV which also includes a radio and plays CDs; there is also a DVD and VHS player.
There is a separate reading area with a bookcase that includes a variety of reading material for all ages; in the cupboard below are DVDs and videos plus several board games and children’s writing materials and pencils.
Formal Dining Room With its original 1920s fireplace (not open for lighting), the dining room has table and chairs to seat six people, an armoire containing crystal glasses and decanters plus a side serving table.
Cloaks/WC Comprises hooks behind the door for coats (further hooks in the laundry/utility room on the lower ground floor) plus WC and basin.
First Floor Ten stairs with a turn and half landing up to three bedrooms – two doubles and a twin – each of which has a wardrobe (equipped with wood and padded hangers plus quality Nicky Clarke hair dryers), bedside tables and seating; the doubles having also have dressing tables with additional seating.
House bathroom The house bathroom comprises WC, bath with shower attachment and washbasin with a heated towel rail.
Front Garden This is accessed by one step and is fully decked with a table and four chairs plus a bench and potted plants and shrubs; a suntrap, it catches the sun most of the day with views of the sea.
The Beach House is an old property and by its very nature cannot be adapted for the use of wheelchairs and may not be suitable for the very infirm because of its 3 floors. All windows have either traditional openings or some sea-facing ones have modern tilt or fully opening windows; we advise that the window in the Gothic-style bedroom is not left fully open around unsupervised children.