Bury Tower House - Sleeps 16

Enter Bury Tower and discover a magical world where wonderful childhood holiday memories can be recreated within, and without, the solid walls of this Grade II listed Georgian seaside mansion.

It is easy to imagine a family – or party of celebrants - leaving this home early in the morning for a day at the beach (only 10 minutes walk away) or sailing on the Solent and then walking through the door contentedly at dusk with sandy feet, or in sailing kit, and divesting themselves of their day’s activity in the highly functional utility room overlooking the back garden.

There is a robustness about Bury Tower – it will take a lot of rough and tumble one suspects and the wood floored living areas of this house will sweep clean quickly. Used boots, balls, waterproofs and wetsuits are all welcome here.

This is an upstairs downstairs house, with a twist

Downstairs is largely for living. An open plan, dog-legged kitchen with a snug at the end stretches the length of the house and gives views over both walled gardens, back and front. A long, contemporary, light-wood table would fit all guests at one sitting but could also be used more informally – for creative arts exercises, perhaps. Next to this room, off the entrance hall, is a friendly family room with working fireplace and French windows onto the front, lawned garden. This floor is completed by the already mentioned utility room and one of the six double bedrooms, the one on the ground floor features French window access to the back garden and pretty decking area.

Upstairs is the twist

A warren of five large bedrooms (the sixth bedroom on the ground floor ideal for anyone not wishing to use the stairs!) some featuring ornate original fireplace. Hidden away, however, is the secret space which gives Bury Tower its little piece of magic. What the room was originally used for – star or navy gazing, contemplation or for giving high spirited children the opportunity to reflect on their unacceptable behaviour – is left to the imagination. How it is used during your stay will probably be determined by the inquisitive soul who is the first to discover its whereabouts.

Bury House’s other strong suit is its pair of walled gardens. The one at the front has a distinctly English feel. This is where croquet could be played and tea taken in striped deckchairs surrounded by the abundant flower beds. The rear one, twice as large, has an entirely different feel, French or Mediterranean – you choose. The floor area is split between lush green lawn at the edges, patio paving in the middle and a mosaic carpet feature at the top. A mature evergreen in the centre of this garden would provide welcome shelter on a hot day. On such a day one could easily imagine this brick walled space transformed into a relaxed, Mediterranean alfresco dining scene, with long, check cloth adorned trestle tables host to carafes of wine, bowls of exotic fruit and boards of mature cheese while the children play with a soporific wolfhound in the evergreen’s shade.

Alternatively, set up the barbie and become a bit more Aussie.