Grade II Listed 570-Year-Old Crooked House Up For Sale

This magnificent 570 year old crooked house was the home of the iconic children’s illustrator Quentin Blake.

The Grade II Listed medieval building, on All Saints Street in Hastings, is currently on the market for £950,000 through Unique Property Company.

It was owned by the English cartoonist and children's writer from 1972-2022, he would sit in the upstairs bedroom overlooking the street below. 

Quentin Blake was best known for his collaboration with author Roald Dahl.

His distinctive and whimsical illustrations graced numerous children's books, making him one of the most beloved and recognisable illustrators in the world.

Quentin Blake's collaboration with Roald Dahl began with the book "The Gremlins" in 1943 and continued with many other classics such as "Matilda," "The BFG," and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

Apart from his work with Dahl, Quentin Blake has illustrated books by various authors and has written and illustrated some of his own.

His former four-bedroom was originally constructed as a Wealden Hall in the mid-15th century (c1450) with alterations conducted c1600.

It is located in the historic hub of Hastings Old Town on a street which is of huge historical and aesthetic interest.

It’s also just a few metres from the sea and the beach, this house is probably the finest and most well-preserved property on the street.

The house has five bedrooms, two bathrooms, downstairs loo, flexible spaces for working from home and a good-sized, well stocked garden.

It was constructed before domestic staircases, glazed windows or fireplaces – all of which were added over the following centuries.

The entrance “hall” would have been open to what was then a thatched roof, the kippered roof beams still on show on the top floor attest to this.

The room which is now a lovely dining area would have been the place where the animals of the house were kept, with only a small dais or step to separate them from the living areas of the family.

And the ground floor rooms would have been open to the first-floor level.

Irresistibly, this house was once called Merry Christmas Beer House and in the early to mid-19th century offered accommodation for travellers.

There are several internal walls in the house which are decorated with centuries-old pargetting (pargeting is an Elizabethan period decorative or waterproofing plastering).

All the pargeting in this house has been beautifully preserved, never painted over and still carries the character and artistic intentions of the people who created it, probably during the 16th century.

The original house would have stood in significant grounds and have been regarded as a grand property.

The grounds would probably have extended right up to the West Hill and were a market garden.

Entrance to the property is through what is thought to be the original 15th century front door into a living/dining room.

Step up to the sitting area with inglenook fireplace which now contains a contemporary wood burning stove.

All fireplaces throughout the house are said to be in working condition.

Check out more photos below, courtesy of Unique Property Company:

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