Step into the jazz age: Art Deco seaside house, which hosted Great Gatsby-worthy parties in the 1930s, for sale with private beach access
Beautifully restored Art Deco homes rarely come to market, making the opportunity to buy this modern coastal retreat, complete with a Great Gatsby-style swimming pool, all the more alluring.
The Sandcastle in Pevensey Bay, East Sussex, was built in the early Thirties by London-based architect Charles Evelyn Simmons for celebrated US entertainer Anita Elson and her actor husband Nicholas Prinsep.
The couple used it as their weekend getaway, inviting high-profile guests to extravagant parties that likely rivalled those depicted in F Scott Fitzgerald's novel.
It is believed that the then Prince of Wales and Wallis Simpson later chose it as a secret hideaway in which to continue their controversial relationship, thanks to its private setting.
The property was requisitioned in 1939 for use as a battery station in the Second World War, before returning to a private residence.
It is right on the sea front and has private access to the beach, part of which will fall under the lucky buyer's ownership.
Inside, there is an impressive 6,000 sq ft of living space, including five bedrooms, three reception rooms and an upstairs solarium with lovely views across the bay.
The current owners have painstakingly restored what they call the "original spirit of the house" over five years.
Period features abound, from the elegant fireplace and curved window overlooking the gardens and sea in the main reception room to the in-built kitchen cabinetry.
There are classy hardwood floors and pale walls throughout, a grand staircase with steel handrails, and cheering colourfully tiled bathrooms.
Cleverly designed to make the most of the sea views, almost all rooms face the beach and the entire property is light and airy thanks to all that Thirties glazing.
The "bedroom wing" on the ground floor features four en-suite bedrooms — the master suite also has a dressing room — with an office, laundry room, ironing room and family bathroom also on this level. Downstairs is the boiler room and a wine cellar.
The first floor comprises just two rooms — a fifth bedroom with en-suite shower room and the solarium. The latter's current use is ambiguous; it could be another reception space, a bedroom or a studio for creative types. Extensive balconies on either side offer plenty of outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining.
Outside, landscaped gardens cover an acre of land, with formal lawns, borders and that exquisite heated pool giving the place a remarkable "caught in time" appeal.
The area is also known for its top restaurants — try The Lamb Inn at Wartling and the De La Warr Pavilion in nearby Bexhill.
The Sandcastle is on the market for £2.95 million with The Modern House. Call 020 3795 5920 for more details.