Alexandra House occupies a prime position on the River Medina within the heart of the internationally renowned sailing centre of Cowes and benefits from a pontoon mooring at the foot of the garden. There are unobstructed views over the harbour entrance and The Solent beyond providing a constant stream of yachting and shipping activity. The range of shops, restaurants, yacht Clubs and sailing facilities are all within easy walking distance with the high-speed Redjet passenger ferry to Southampton being about 5 minutes walk.

The property was built in 1831 as a Wesleyan Chapel which then became redundant in around 1902. The building was subsequently rented by Sam Sanders, a marine architect who had his drawing offices upstairs with a boat building operation on the ground floor. Sam Sanders built the speed boat ‘Miss England’ which was used in 1929 by the famous motor racing driver, Henry Segrave to compete in the world motorboat championships against Gar Woods’ Miss America VII who he succeeded in beating and returned home to a Knighthood. He later gained the world water speed record in Miss England II. The building was subsequently known as Alexandra Hall and up until World War II was used by Cowes Amateur Operatic and Dramatics Society and at times for professional boxing. From 1940 it was used by GS Whites and Ratseys boat builders principally for lofting. In 1985 Thomas Wilks of The Rover Car Company purchased the property and converted it into a dwelling.

Alexandra House provides a unique combination of a substantial house, extensive covered storage, parking, direct water access and mooring facilities. The house itself is now in need of modernisation. It is likely, subject to the necessary consents, that internal alteration will be permitted, given that the majority of internal walls were only installed in the 1980’s and the Listing principally relates to the handsome front elevation built of dressed stone.

Ground Floor
Entrance door with arched fanlight above leading to:

Entrance Hall A spacious entrance to the house open to second floor with Maple timber flooring and staircase off. Wood burning stove.

Boot room/utility room Entrance door to side elevation. Sink unit, plumbing for washing machine. Separate wash hand basin and coat hooks.

Cloakroom WC

Kitchen/dining room Spacious double aspect room with stunning views over the harbour and The Solent beyond. Fitted with a Kitchen to one end incorporating a range of base and wall units and a gas fired two oven Aga and built in larder cupboard. At the far end of the room is a dining area with timber flooring.

Drawing room A light and spacious room with generous ceiling heights. Deep sash windows and double French doors provide extensive sea views and access onto the adjacent balcony with a wrought iron spiral staircase leading to the garden. Wood burning stove set on stone hearth, timber flooring and a range of built in cupboards.

Study Window to front elevation.

FIRST FLOOR
Galleried Landing overlooking the Entrance Hall with a large arched window to the front elevation and curved hard wood balustrade. Walk in airing cupboard fitted with insulated hot water tank and slatted shelving.

Bedroom 1 Stunning sea views, built in wardrobe cupboards. Hatch access to roof space.

Bathroom en suite Bath, WC and wash hand basin. Built in cupboard.

Bedroom 2 Sea views.

Bathroom en suite comprising bath, WC and wash hand basin.

Separate WC with roof light.

Family bathroom Bath, pedestal wash hand basin.

Bedroom 4 Arched window to front elevation.

Bedroom 3 South facing room.

Bedroom 5 Large west facing window to front elevation.

LOWER GROUND FLOOR
Boat Store occupying the whole of the lower ground floor with windows and a door to the front elevation and large double doors to the rear elevation creating an opening of 4.1m wide x 2.9m high. Concrete floor, power and lighting. There is also three-phase electricity serving the crane on the waters edge. This extensive storage space is capable of storing a number of boats.

Workshop 3.92m x 4.83m fitted work bench, Potterton gas fired boiler serving hot water and central heating. Power, lighting and a curved head window.

Outside To the front of the property are elegant wrought iron railings with stone gate pillars to either side behind which is matured hedging. A central tiled path leads to the front door, whilst to one side of the property a five bar gate opens to a concrete drive way and parking area which slopes down the southern side of Alexandra House providing access to both the boat store and the waters edge, facilitating the removal of boats from the water into storage by trailer.

To the rear of the property is a concrete hard standing, with stone steps leading down to an area of lawn with an adjacent rose border. The garden culminates in an area of hard standing adjacent to the waters edge where there is both a crane hoist, with the capacity of approximately 4.75 tonnes and steps leading over the sea wall. The property has the benefit of rights to a pontoon, shared with the two adjacent properties which provides access to a pontoon mooring capable of mooring a boat of up to 30.ft. This mooring is leased from the Crown Estate on a 20 year lease, which commenced in 2007.

Services: Mains water, electricity, drainage and gas.

Viewings
Viewings will be strictly by prior arrangement with either of the joint sole agents:

Christopher Scott Tel: 01983 242121

OR

Knight Frank Tel: 01962 850333

MISDESCRIPTIONS ACT 1991

Christopher Scott and Knight Frank for themselves and the vendors of this property whose agents they are give notice that:

i The particulars are set out as a general outline only for the guidance of intending purchasers and do not constitute, nor constitute part of, an offer or contract.
ii All descriptions, references to condition, necessary permissions for use and occupation and other details are given in good faith and are believed to be correct, but any intending purchaser should not rely on them as statements or representations of fact and must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness and accuracy of each of them.
iii No person in the employment of Christopher Scott or Knight Frank has any authority to make or give any representation or warranty whatever in relation to this property.