AN INCREDIBLE Georgian property where Britain’s beloved artist J.M.W. Turner is said to have painted in is on the market for £2.3m.
The Romantic painter and watercolourist apparently painted from one of the bedrooms in West Hill Villa in Hastings, East Sussex.
Built Circa 1800, the Grade II house is constructed of brick and built into the sandstone bedrock.
The old Hastings Pottery was located in the lower part of the house which boasts vaulted caves.
In recent years, these historical caves have been refurbished and redecorated into a quirky and unique bathroom with a sauna.
There is also a 90ft orangery which houses a fish pool, grapevines, banana trees and other exotic plants – some of which are said to have been brought to the house by explorer Captain Cook.
The five bedroom property is split across four floors and overlooks the English Channel.
Estate agents Unique Property Company listed the property on the market two weeks ago (31 MAY) for offers over £2.3m.
They said: “Built circa 1800, the house is constructed of brick and built into the sandstone bedrock of the West Hill.
“There’s some evidence that JMW Turner painted from one of the bedrooms in the house during his stay in Hastings.
“The garden is south facing and spans across the width of the rear of the property with a lawned terrace, vegetable area and raised seating area with sea views.
“During the past year the house has been extensively refurbished and redecorated to create a very comfortable and distinctive home.
“The current owners have paid attention to the detail and heritage of the property.
“They’ve decorated throughout the house in a subtle and sympathetic way which embraces its historical importance while remaining warm and easy to live in.
“The old Hastings Pottery was located in the lower part of the house which opens into vaulted caves.
“These very beautiful and historic caves have now become an extraordinary and beautifully finished bathroom space with a sauna.
“A 90ft orangery forms the west wing of the property and houses a fish pool as well as grapevines, banana trees and other exotic plants some of which are said to have been brought to the house by Captain Cook and the orangery used as a safe haven for plants found on his voyages before being transported to Kew Gardens.
“This is a home unlike any other and has a romance about it – partly because of its history and partly because of its unique position and remarkable internal accommodation.”
Joseph Mallord William Turner was a renowned English romantic painter and printmaker.
He is widely viewed as the greatest landscape artist of the 19th Century.
Although he was brought up in the academic traditions of the 18th Century, he became a visionary in studying light, colour and atmosphere.
He was known as the painter of light because of his increasing interest in brilliant colours which allowed his artwork to become instantly recognisable.
Turner died a week before Christmas in 1851 of cholera and is buried in St Paul’s Cathedral.
The Turner Prize was named after the renowned artist and is presented to a British visual artist winner each year.
