Best house in Bridlington with a grade two star for splendour

Day trippers and tourists who flock to its glorious sandy 
beaches may not realise that Bridlington has another jewel in its crown.

A mile back from the sands is the historic Old Town, which bills itself as “the other side to the seaside”. A charming mix of 17th and 18th century properties overlooked by a beautiful Augustinian priory, it is an historic oasis surrounded by a sea of architecturally unambitious semis and bungalows.

Penelope Weston and her late husband, the Rt Rev Frank Weston, former Bishop of Knaresborough, were captivated by the conservation area when they went to view what architectural historian and author David Neave describes as “one of the best historic houses in the East Riding” and certainly the best in Brid.

“It is a fantastic house with the most incredible features,” says Penelope, who bought The Toft in 2001.

The eminent architect Francis Johnson thought so too. He persuaded his parents to buy it in the 1930s after being bowled over by its classical beauty.

Commissioned in 1673 by wealthy merchant William Hudson, it was designed to flaunt his status and boasted a cupola to the south elevation so he could keep an eye on his ships at the Quay.

The property was remodelled around 1840 and a third storey added, but the interior was of such quality that it remained largely untouched. A grade two star listing in 1951 has ensured its preservation and it is breathtaking with intricate pediments and plaster friezes, decorated architraves, cornices and ceilings. The hall is a visual feast in Georgian red, the timber framed dining room is dominated by a Doric framed chimney piece, while the first floor drawing room is the most grand with moulded panelling and an ornate, carved fireplace.

“We were looking for somewhere to retire to as my husband was due to finish work in 2003 and we hadn’t even thought of living in Bridlington, but we saw this in the paper and thought we’d have a look and that was it .It needed a lot of work but we thought it would be an interesting project,” says Penelope.

The couple spent two years travelling back and forth from their home in Leeds overseeing a painstaking modernisation.

The property was tired and, although it had survived centuries of fads and trends with its lavish interior largely untouched, it had never been centrally heated. So the first task was to carefully install radiators without compromising the integrity of the rooms.

“The chap who had it before us used this as a holiday home, so he wasn’t bothered about central heating.

“We were and the conservation officer agreed we could have it if we were careful and didn’t put radiators in every room,” says Penelope, who was thrilled by some exciting discoveries , including original Victorian floor tiles hidden beneath dull grey ones in the kitchen and Francis Johnson’s initials etched into a pane of glass in one of the top- floor rooms.

Helped by her daughter, she also tackled the neglected lawns and borders and set out to 
revive the 150-year-old knot garden.

With the renovation finally complete, the couple celebrated their Ruby wedding anniversary at the house just weeks before they were due to move there full-time. Then tragedy struck and the Bishop suffered a brain haemorrhage and died.

“It was very sad and very frustrating after all the work we had done. It is a large house even for two people and I had to decide whether to go there alone. We had invested so much effort and love in it that I didn’t have to think about it for long,” says Penelope.

Moving to a town where she knew barely anyone was a brave decision but it paid off, helped by her plan to share the house as much as she could.

The Toft has been used as a retreat for clergy and, until recently, it was part of the Quiet Garden Movement, which sees home owners offer their garden as place for people to rest and pray.

It has also hosted meetings of the Old Town Association, of which Penelope was chairperson and, more recently, been a hub for planning the priory’s 900th anniversary.

“We also created our own ‘blue plaque’ to explain the history of the house and if I see people reading it outside I’ll sometimes ask if they want to have a look round,” says Penelope. “When they see the drawing room for the first time they are knocked sideways by it.

There are always lots of “oohs and aahs”. Not only at the features but at the space and the enormous garden.

The house is on three floors and has a drawing room, dining room, sitting room, study, breakfast kitchen, utility, six bedrooms, three bathrooms and a second-floor apartment.

“My favourite is the drawing room but I also love the bathroom door frame. I have no idea why it is so elaborate and grand. It is bizarre,” says Penelope, who will be greatly missed when she leaves the Old Town to downsize and move closer to her children.

“It’s a wonderful house and I’ve really enjoyed living here. The Old Town is astonishingly beautiful to look at and it has a strong cultural focus with galleries and several good places to eat.

“People talk about Whitby and Scarborough but Bridlington has so much going for it and I didn’t realise that myself until I moved here.”

The Toft, High Street, Bridlington, is for sale with Jackson Stops and Staff for £435,000, tel: 01904 625033 , www.jackson-stops.co.uk. For details of The Priory open day visit www.priory900.org.

Old town where the past is preserved

The Old Town was once the heart of Bridlington and was quite separate from the fishing port.

Over the years the two, which are a mile apart, have been linked by newer builds.

A conservation area, it boasts numerous historic buildings, including Bridlington Priory. The Old Town also spawned one of Britain’s most famous 20th century architects, Francis Johnson, who died in 1995.

Influenced by Classical architecture and Georgian style, his legacy is an impressive collection of houses, churches and restorations, including remodelling Garrowby.

He also bought and restored Craven House on the High Street, which is still home to his eponymous practice.