Neighbouring an ancient gateway in Rye, this cottage is alive with historic features that make for an utterly characterful home. The one-bedroom house sits at the end of a Grade II-listed terrace that curves south from the imposing Landgate into the centre of the town. To its side and rear are a terrace and courtyard respectively, both offering wonderful prospects for a day spent relaxing or reading. From the house’s cliff-top location, it is easy to access both the high street and the train station in Rye, where there are fantastic connections to Hastings, Brighton, Kent, London and beyond.

Setting the Scene

The house stands in the lea of the historic Landgate, which dates from 1329 – the early years of King Edward III’s reign – who invested heavily in the town’s fortification. Once one of four gates into the town, it is the sole surviving structure and today remains the only vehicular entrance into the medieval hill town of Rye. Here, cobbled streets are lined with half-timbered medieval houses, originally built by the communities that settled here because of Rye’s provenance as a shipping and storage port for the iron industry.

The Grand Tour

True to its name, Hilders Cliff arcs around the steep bank at the edge of Rye from Landgate to the high street, with views across the River Rother towards Camber and Dungeness. The cottage sits at the end of an 18th-century terrace of neat brick houses, one half of a pair of neat façades with canted bay windows and twin front doors flanked by pilasters.

Throughout the interiors, a decisive palette of bold colours and honest, natural materials accentuates the building’s character, which has been carefully exposed and restored. The result is a home that balances a contemporary approach to colour and design with the idiosyncratic original fabric of the building.

In the living room, the rich tone of ‘Bancha’ by Farrow & Ball is softly lit by the large bay window, giving depth to the calm atmosphere. As a counterpoint, architraves, skirtings and a built-in cupboard are painted a bright ‘School House White’ also by Farrow & Ball, and darkly stained timber floors flow seamlessly here and across the ground floor.

Opening onto the west-facing courtyard, the kitchen is where the bones of the building reveal themselves: brickwork and beams have been carefully exposed, and reclaimed timber cabinetry adds another layer of visual interest. The original fireplace has been repurposed as open shelving, a nook ripe for displaying favourite cookbooks. From here, a staircase bounded by exposed posts winds up to the first floor.

The bedroom makes the most of its corner position, with two large casement windows that ensure its brightness throughout the day while affording views out across the marshes. Broad and smooth floorboards run into the bathroom where, in a nod to the town’s nautical pedigree, butt-and-bead timber panelling clads the walls and conceals clever storage.

Great Outdoors

Wrapping around the southern and western walls of the cottage, the garden is divided into two distinct areas: a small courtyard to the south and to the rear, a walled and gravelled garden makes a sheltered spot for a pre-prandial drink in the afternoon sun. A mature wisteria arches over a gateway through to a neighbouring lane, and jasmine climbs up the opposite wall.

Out and About

Right in the historic heart of Rye, this cottage is well-positioned on the winding lanes of one of East Sussex’s most picturesque towns. The streets are peppered with independent shops and galleries and there is even a popular independent cinema, Kino, set within an old church building. The town has several excellent eateries including The Whitehouse, The Fig, and The Union alongside a thriving pub and café scene; Knoops is a local treasure for artisan hot chocolates in cold weather.

Over the years, Rye has drawn an artistic crowd, giving rise to a wealth of eclectic shops with a bent for stylish design, including McCully & Crane and the wonderful Soap & Salvation, both consistently stocked with beautiful art and homeware, alongside numerous antique vendors.

Further afield, the rolling hills of the High Weald are home to many joyful landscapes, including the magnificent gardens of Great Dixter and Sissinghurst. The biodynamic vineyards of Tillingham produce exciting natural wines that pair equally well with their rustic pizzas or the seasonal food of its Michelin ‘Green Star’-awarded restaurant.

The best beaches in the South East are all easily accessible from Rye, including Dungeness, Camber Sands and Hastings. Rail connections from the town are excellent, with branch-line train services to Brighton and Ashford offering high-speed connections to London St Pancras and the continent, via the Eurostar.

Council Tax Band: B