Two centuries of history... written in stone, iron, oak
PROBABLY built to house workers at the nearby quarry, Little West View was also once a brewery, but then reverted to its original use as a home. More recently, the 200-year- old building has had a complete overhaul, and is now as good as new.
Present owners Robert, pictured, and Andrea Williams have lived here for two and half years, having bought it off the chap who completed the renovation.
He runs a reclamation business, which meant he had ready access to plenty of materials appropriate for an old cottage.
For example, old oak boards are laid in the living and dining rooms, there's a multi-fuel burner, chunky oak lintels over the windows and wide stone cills, plus flagstones in the hall and garden. Also in the garden are two old Bristol gas lampposts, which have been hooked up to the electric system.
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Some newer, but still in-keeping touches, include period-style cast iron radiators, oak-framed double- glazed windows, oak latch doors, a beautifully crafted oak staircase (that doesn't creak) and bespoke oak storage cupboards.
There's more bespoke joinery in the kitchen, where the solid wood cupboards have recently been freshened up with a lick of Farrow & Ball.
Indeed, the Williams have decorated the place throughout and replaced the downstairs shower room, which is neatly placed off the rear hall. Subtle wall colours include muted shades of yellow, green and pink; subtle, peaceful and very pleasant.
"It was magnolia everywhere when we moved in," said Robert, "so it needed a bit of colour – not much, but just a bit, and when it's sunny the light really lifts it."
Facing out towards Frenchay Common, the house gets the sun at its front all day, so it's no accident that both reception rooms and the two biggest bedrooms all face this direction. At the rear are the bath/shower rooms, the third (double) bedroom and the kitchen.
From the front, the old cottage looks like a new house, with repointed stone work, a smart cobbled drive and a neat garden, all behind wrought iron electric gates.
Stained glass and leaded light inserts add interest to the porch, while the living room is dominated by a floor-to-ceiling brick chimney breast and in the fireplace is a multi-fuel-burner.
The hallway, with its quarry-tiled floor, leads through to kitchen/breakfast room, which includes a double Belfast sink and a free-standing Rangemaster electric and gas cooker.
On the first floor, the landing and all the bedrooms are laid with soft, beige carpets and each room has its own, soft colour scheme.
None of bedrooms is cramped and all share the fully tiled bathroom, where the white suite includes a free-standing, cast iron, roll-top, claw-foot bath.
At the back of the house, surrounded by a laurel hedge, is a flagstone patio, but it is the front garden where Robert prefers to spend his spare time.
"It is a lovely place to live and when the sun is out it is glorious. I will miss that. I love to sit out the front with a bottle of beer and watch the world go by.
"But it is too big. I want something a bit more leisurely and I don't want all the money tied up in the house. I would like to go down to working three days a week."
For years, Robert and Andrea lived in Frampton Cotterell before upping sticks to Frenchay, which they like because it is just five miles from the city centre, close to the motorways and their house is tucked away in a quiet spot.
Robert, who is a handy sort ("I can turn my hand to all sorts of things") is looking for a new project, perhaps a two-bedroom cottage in Henleaze that needs a bit of work.
KATE EDSER
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