The Coastguard Cottages

A listed terrace of seven cottages built in 1826 by the government in an attempt to suppress smuggling in the area, on a sheltered and slightly sloping sunny site facing due south and directly overlooking the sea, so that all front rooms have sea views. A broad and social sitting area gives onto a large lawn in front, partially divided by hedges and surrounded by a perimeter wall helping to contain younger children. Within it are a big sand pit and swing. Along the back of the terrace is a service building for logs and/or coal separated from the house by a narrow continuous alley. It contains a telephone and showers as well as a small fuel shed and water closet for each of the cottages. There is a laundry room with washing machines and driers, though each cottage has its own clothesline. Cars are parked 50 yards to the east in an old quarry, avoiding any disturbance. Coule’s Cove is about 100 paces away and the nearest sandy beach, Kenneggy, is some 300 away via the rocks at low tide.

 

NO.1 at the west end was occupied by the most senior coastguard being the largest and separated from the rest by a garden wall. It has three bedrooms including two doubles at the front (one with an additional small single bed) and a twin; kitchen; dining room with solid fuel stove and upright piano; sitting room with open fire; bathroom. There is an additional outside WC and store for fuel across the alleyway at the back. Parking for two-three cars. (Equipped for seven people)

NO.2 also has three bedrooms comprising a separate double and a twin at the front communicating with a second twin at the back. Downstairs has a bathroom; sitting room with open fire and kitchen/diner. There is an additional outside WC, shower and store for fuel across the alleyway at the back. Parking for two cars. (Equipped for six people)

NO.3 has three bedrooms with a double at the front inter-communicating with two twins at the back. Downstairs, the sitting room has an open fire and is divided from the kitchen/diner at the back with a sliding partition; bathroom. It also has an additional outside WC and a shower. Parking for two cars. (Equipped for six people)

NOS.4-6 have two interconnecting twin rooms, the one at the front leading to the second at the back. The beds in the front have zip-up mattresses making optional six feet doubles. Downstairs comprises a sitting room with open fire at the front leading to the kitchen/diner with a table-top bath. The WC and shower is a hop across the alley outside the back door. Parking for two cars. (Equipped for four people)

NO.7 is on the end and similar to nos. 4-6 but the bedrooms are not interconnecting and the front room has a double bed; sitting room at the front with open fire and kitchen with table-top bath at the back. The WC and shower is also across the narrow alley behind. Parking for two cars. (Equipped for four people)