Rye is famous for many reasons not least of all for its fascinating architecture and breath-taking properties. Tucked away, often along cobbled streets are many examples of stunning period buildings, often with fascinating historical connections and in Rye and Winchelsea some include cellars honed out of stone – originally hallmarks of smuggling and now featuring in tourist cellar tours.
To my knowledge there isn’t a property in Rye built into an ancient cave network, but if this is what you are looking for you need to head to the Old Town of Hastings where you will find West Hill Villa, currently available to purchase at a cool £1,950,000.
This recently renovated five bedroom house is one of the most beautifully situated houses in Hastings Old Town and from the outside, this distinctive blue painted property looks like any other ordinary house. But behind the front door, you soon realise that this Grade 2 listed house is pretty special, built into the sandstone bedrock of West Hill and the St Clements Caves.
The caves have served as a home, a hospital and an air raid shelter during the Second World war and date back to 14,000 BC.
The lower part of the property opens into vaulted caves, where the old Hastings Pottery once was, and built into the caves is the unique bathroom space and meditation area, where cave drawings and faces which were engraved into the walls many centuries ago, have been preserved. A spiral staircase takes you to the first floor mezzanine and a “secret” staircase leads to the third floor with two bedrooms, both with balconies with sea views. There are two further bedrooms on the fourth floor.
The top floor has expansive views across West Hill to the rear and to the sea from the front. In the garden is an orangery, believed to have been used as a safe haven for plants found by Captain Cook on his voyages before being transported to Kew Gardens, and now includes exotic plants, grapevines and banana trees . It is also rumoured that JMW Turner painted from one of the villa’s bedrooms on his stay in Hastings.
So, for those with deep pockets looking for a home that’s a little different and you fancy experiencing that Flintstone feeling, head on down to Hastings Old Town where your dream home awaits.
Image Credits: Right Move .