SUITABILITY STATEMENT

04/08/2019

MOUNT HOUSE, 44 CLIFF STREET, WHITBY YO21 3DD

The purpose of this statement is to help you to decide before booking whether Mount House can fulfil your accommodation requirements. While the house is generally a joy to live in, there are some features which might make it unsuitable for people with limited mobility, allergies, sensitivities or specific requirements.

The whole of Mount House is non-smoking.

We are unable to accept animals of any kind.

BACKGROUND

Mount House was at one time occupied by a steamship owner. The house dates back to circa 1760.

This historic house is located in Cliff Street, formerly Cliff Lane, which is referred to in the Domesday Book. The street is mostly comprised of a mixture of terraced Georgian and Victorian properties and forms part of Whitby’s Conservation Area. Mount House is located adjacent to Pier Lane, which is a historic cobbled lane leading directly to the harbourside.

SHORT VERSION:

The shower room is shared by both guest rooms.

The bedrooms are carpeted.

The rest of the house has mainly waxed wooden flooring.

There are soft furnishings in a variety of fabrics.

There are no televisions or kettles in the bedrooms.

There are antiques and fragile ornaments in all rooms.

The stairs are wood.

There are no lifts.

Breakfast is served at the kitchen table.

The windows rattle and can be draughty. The noise of seagulls can be heard day and night.

There are a few antique taxidermy specimens around the house.

The use of the garden is encouraged, but at guests’ own risk.

LONG VERSION:

PARKING:

The street is one-way, with double yellow lines, however, the courtyard at Mount House can accommodate one car (subject to availability). The proximity of seagulls means parked cars are likely to be covered in seagull droppings. Nearby on-street, scratch card parking is available on a first-come first-served basis on the Kyhber Pass, East Crescent and surrounding West Cliff streets. Parking has long been an issue in Whitby. There are municipal carparks and a Park & Ride scheme with the bus service delivering you to the bus station at the centre of Whitby.

This is a useful link: https://www.thewhitbyguide.co.uk/parking-in-whitby/

OUTSIDE:

• The entrance to the house is through the gated courtyard. The width between gate posts is 2.10 m.
• There is a row of cobbles at the entrance to the courtyard max. 0.06 m high and 0.5 m across. This serves to deflect run-off storm water. Extreme care should be exercised when driving through the gates.
• The courtyard is approx. 5.0 m x 5.5 m.
• A path along the house frontage leads you to the front door. This measures approx. 1.7 m x 6.0 m to the front door. The threshold is 0.9 m. The path continues another 3.0 m.
• At the end of the path is a locked gate. This gate cannot be used.
• A water pump to provide water for the garden is currently under construction next to the locked gate.
• The courtyard and path are paved with the original, worn, uneven slabs.
• There is one step into the house (1.0 m wide x 0.2 m deep).

GARDEN:

• The entrance to the garden is diagonally opposite the front door through a heavy iron gate.
• Steps lead down to the garden from a landing step measuring 1.2 m x 1.0 m x 0.15 m.
• There are 11 steps 0.75 m wide, 0.11 m deep. The steps are old and worn.
• The walled garden comprises an arrangement of 3 main flagged or cobbled terraces, flower beds, steps, 1 shed and a pergola. The side border walls are low stone-coped with a steep drop (3.0 m) to the public paths below. At the end of the garden is a hedge.
• The pergola terrace is a platform of approx. 2.8 m x 1.5 m x 0.10 m.
• The seating area in front of the shed is approx.1.6 m x 3.00 m with a drop of 0.57 m to the next terrace.
• Plants overhang the paths and an ancient rose grows among the original Georgian railings on the steps.
• The second terrace is accessed by 4 x 0.16 m kite wound steps of min. 0.50 m width.
• The second stone-flagged terrace is 2.40 m x 6.20 m with flower beds at the edges. The 3rd cobbled terrace is accessed down 5 x 0.15 m drop x 1.0 m wide railway-sleeper steps. The terrace measures 2.5 m x 6.0 m of cobbled are and a small flowerbed of 2.0 m x 2.4 m. Either end of this terrace is a low stone wall behind which is a steep drop to public footpaths.
• There is no garden lighting.
• There are currently 2 slatted benches, 2 slatted chairs and a round occasional table distributed around the garden.

FRONT DOOR:

• There is one step 0.12 m step up to the front door.
• The door is 0.1 m wide and opens inwards.
• The height of the door lock for use by guests is 1.3 m from the bottom of the door.
• The door has additional locks for added security at times when no guests are resident.
• There is an external, movement-detector light above the front door.

GROUND FLOOR HALL:

• The hall is ‘L’ shaped with a waxed pine floor and small rug at the base of the stairs. The area immediately between the front door and stairs is approx. 2 m x 1 m.
• There are 2 living rooms, kitchen and pantry on the ground floor. There are stairs leading to the first floor.
• The knob handles on these rooms measure 0.86 m from the floor.
• There is one ceiling light operated by a 2-way switch at a height of 1.27 from the floor.
• There is a wall-mounted metal coat hook rack and beneath space for leaving muddy boots.

STAIRS TO THE FIRST FLOOR:

• These are the original waxed pine stairs with pine spindles and mahogany handrail.
• There is a flight of 9 steps, a short landing (1.8 m x 0.87 m) and a second flight of 8 steps.
• The steps have a rise of 0.17 m, run of 0.27 m and width of approx. 0.84 m.
• The handrail is 0.8 m high.
• There is one long bottle window extending over two floors providing plenty of ambient light. There is no curtain.

LANDING TOILET:

• This is on the landing to the first floor up the stairs comprising 9 steps. It is compact, measuring only 0.9 m long x 0.86 m wide.
• The door is 0.68 m wide and opens outwards.
• The floor is waxed pine.
• There is a privacy lock.

FIRST FLOOR SHOWER ROOM FOR THE USE OF BOTH GUEST ROOMS:

• This is on the left-hand side of the hall and measures 2.7 m long x 2.7 m wide.
• There is a locked cupboard to the right in the shower room – this houses the boiler and hot water tank serving the whole house.
• The door is 0.66 m wide and opens inwards
• The floor is waxed pine.
• There is 0.75 m x 1.2 m shower compartment. There is a glass panel on one side, the other walls are tiled. The shower operates by means of an on-off lever and cog temperature control. There is a large fixed shower head (0.33 m diameter) at a height of 2.03 m. The low-profile 2.5 cm shower base is stone resin with a virtually-flush waste plate. There is no door. At the entrance to the shower is a small 0.74 m x 0.74 m vinyl-tiled area. Cotton bathmats are provided to place in front of the shower. A rubber shower mat is available on request.
• There is one ceiling shower light with integrated extractor fan activated when the light is on.
• There is one toilet and one pedestal washbasin with a mahogany-framed oval mirror with two wall sconce lights, a Lloyd Loom linen basket, two stools, a stack of shower towels and bathmats, a set of shelves housing some ornaments and additional toiletries for the use of guests.
• There is a privacy lock.

JUG ROOM

• This is to the right of the stairwell and measures 3.70 m wide x 4.20 m long
• The door measures 0.68 m wide, opening inwards. The brass doorknob is at a height of 0.86 m.
• The flooring is beige 100% polypropylene carpet.
• The standard-size double bed is antique with a metal frame base with wood head and foot boards and a clearance of 0.24 m to the floor. The legs are fitted with castors.
• The mattress is 0.22 m deep and sits on wooden slats.
• The height of the mattresses from the floor to the top of the bed is 0.56 m
• There is 0.9 m of space to the left-hand side of the bed and 0.75 m of space to the right-hand side.
• The bed linen is 100% cotton comprising a duvet cover, pillowcases and bottom sheet. The duvet and pillows are made of manmade fibres. The pillows are fitted with waterproof anti-allergy pillow protectors made of bamboo fibres.
  Extra bedding is available on request.
• The room houses a collection of 77 moulded jugs arranged on floor to ceiling wooden shelves.
• There are various antique ornaments in the room.
• There is one chest of drawers with 2 small and 3 large drawers. A hairdryer, one torch and 2 hot water bottles are located in the top right drawer.
• There is a huge, arched-door wardrobe for guest use. The wardrobe door is mirrored and heavy to open.
• There are two ceramic barrels, one at either side of the bed functioning as bedside tables. Each table has a reading lamp.
• One power strip – with 2 x 2/3-pin outlets, 4 USB ports with a 1.6m extension cord is provided. There are 7 skirting board 3-pin sockets. The house Wi-Fi booster with flashing LED light is plugged into the skirting board socket near to the door. The light can be seen from the bed.
• The single-glazed sash windows are old, no longer fit well and can be draughty.
• Each of the two windows is fitted with the original working shutters. There are no curtains.
• Seagulls calling can be heard most nights.
• There is an open fireplace with stone mantlepiece no longer in use. The sound of seagulls and pigeons moving on the chimney pot capper can sometimes be heard down the chimney. After a storm, a dusting of sand and small pieces of plaster occasionally fall down the chimney.
• Beneath each window is a cast iron radiator.
• The central heating is controlled by thermostat and timer.
• There is an antique Windsor-style armchair and a bentwood cane seated rocking chair.
• A coat hook on the back of the door, is useful to hang drying towels.
• There is one ceiling 3 light chandelier.
• There is no television set, radio or kettle. (Drinks can be obtained from the kitchen at most times – except during cleaning or similar).
• The room can be locked.

GRANNY’S ROOM – at the end of the first floor corridor

• This measures 2.60 m at its narrowest x 4.3 m in length
• The door measures 0.74 m wide, opening inwards
• The flooring is fitted with beige 100% polypropylene carpet
• The height of the mattress from the floor to the top of a single bed is 0.5 m
• The room has: two single beds. The beds are Birlea Atlas beds. The mattress rests on a wooden-slat base. The mattress measures 1.9 m x 0.9 m x 0.21 m.
• The bed linen is 100% cotton comprising a duvet cover, pillow cases and bottom sheet. The duvet and pillows are made of manmade fibres. The pillows are fitted with waterproof anti-allergy pillow protectors made of bamboo fibres.
  Extra bedding is available on request.
• There is an antique oak chest of drawers (2 small drawers, 2 large drawers), one antique mahogany marble-topped bedside cabinet, one bedside lamp, an oak framed double bed, a Victorian mahogany swing mirror, a Victorian carver chair, an original mill basket (containing extra bedding and wool blankets) and a Victorian mahogany coat stand with coat hangers to hang longer items of clothing.
• The walls are decorated with textiles. There are handmade soft furnishings.
• There are a few antique ornaments around the room.
• There is a coat hook behind the door useful for hanging towels to dry.
• There are six sockets either on the skirting board or slightly above the skirting board behind the bed heads. One power strip – with 2 x 2/3-pin outlets, 4 USB ports with a 1.6m extension cord is provided
• The window has working-shutters and curtains.
• The window is relatively new and fits snuggly. Seagulls can nonetheless be heard.
• There is an open fireplace with pine mantlepiece no longer in use. The sound of seagulls and pigeons moving on the chimney pot capper can sometimes be heard down the chimney. After a storm, a dusting of sand and small pieces of plaster occasionally fall down the chimney.
• There is one carriage-type ceiling light controlled by the switch next to the door.
• A hairdryer, torch, hot water bottles, and the what-to-do-in-an-emergency instructions are located in the right-hand drawer of the chest of drawers.
• The central heating is controlled by thermostat and timer.
• There is no television set, radio or kettle. (Drinks can be obtained from the kitchen at most times – except during cleaning or similar)
• The room can be locked.

FIRST FLOOR CORRIDOR

• The corridor measures at various points between 0.9 m and 1.36 m across. It is 5.8 m in length.
• The flooring is waxed pine. There is an old wool rug runner measuring 3.0 m x 0.9 m.
• There is a 3 light chandelier and 5 light chandelier operated by a triple and single rocking switch located at either end of the corridor. All corridor light switches are at a height of approximately 1.2 m.
• There are two single-glazed windows. No curtains. Beneath each window is a cast-iron radiator.
• There is an antique church bench, Windsor chair, pictures displayed quite low on the walls and a large mirror. There are antique ornaments and handmade soft furnishings.

GROUND FLOOR KITCHEN / BREAKFAST ROOM

• This open plan area measures 4.8 m long x 2.8 m wide in total
• The doorway to the kitchen is narrow at 0.7 m. The door opens outwards.
• The floor is tiled with traditional quarry tiles.
• The breakfast area is to the right. There are 3 Velux windows above and two sash windows. One window oversees a public footpath and so it is normal for people to pass quite close to the window. There are roller blinds to exclude strong sunlight.
• The pine breakfast table measures 1.5 m x 1.2 m and is 0.74 m high. The legs are on castors.
• There are 4 x Victorian scroll-back chairs. There is a church pew with cushion pads to seat two. The distance from seat to floor is 0.74 m. The clearance between chair seat and table skirt is 0.12 m.
• The table comfortably seats 6 persons. It can be extended to seat max. 10 persons.
• The lighting is a combination of ceiling studded LED lights in the work area and a 5 light chandelier above the table.
• There are glass ornaments, antiques on display around the kitchen and a taxidermy deer mounted on the wall.
• The range cooker comprises a gas hob and arrangement of electric ovens.
• The crockery is ceramic and the cutlery stainless steel or plated silver.
• There is no television set or radio.
• A kettle, tea and coffee, milk are available for guests to make their hot drinks, should they so wish.
• At the far end of the kitchen is a narrow pantry. Among other things it houses the washing machine and tumble dryer. When in use, these two machines may be audible in some parts of the house.

MAIN LIVING ROOM

• To the left of the front door.
• It measures a minimum 3.8 m x 4.2 m.
• The door is 0.79 wide and opens inwards.
• The floor is fitted with 100% polypropylene carpet. There is a wool rug measuring 3.0 m x 2.0 m in front of the fireplace.
• The room has wainscot pine panelling, 3 windows and two cast iron radiators. The windows no longer fit well and draughts are possible.
• The windows have working shutters, no curtains.
• There is a 3-seater upholstered sofa, a 2-seater Bergere vintage sofa, a rush-back-and-seat Arts and Crafts armchair, an upholstered armchair, grandfather clock (no-longer working), a nest of 3 small tables and a round, glass-topped occasional table.
• There are handmade soft furnishings in a variety of fabrics.
• There is a 5 light dimmable glass chandelier light.
• The wallpaper is hand stencilled.
• There is an open fireplace with pine mantlepiece above which a large arched mirror is mounted.
• On rare occasions in winter, a hearth fire may be lit and tended by the owner. Smokeless fuel with timber kindling is used.

SNUG

• This is to the right of the front door.
• The door opens inwards and measures 0.79 m in width.
• The light switch to operate the 5 light chandelier is 1.35 m above the floor.
• There is an antique metal range including a working fireplace, above which is a gilt-framed mirror.
• The flooring is waxed pine. There is a 2.0 m x 1.5 m wool rug in front of the fireplace.
• There are some bookshelves, a standard lamp, and a vintage Lloyd Loom tall armchair and a table tamp.
• There is a 2-seater Victorian upholstered sofa and a 1-seater Bergere sofa.
• The room is decorated with antiques and pictures.
• There is one sash window, in front of which there is a cast iron radiator.
• The room can be draughty.
• There are handmade soft furnishings in a variety of materials.
• There is a locked storage room for use of the owner only, in which tools, etc. are stored.

REST OF THE HOUSE

There is a second floor with two rooms plus a bathroom and a separate attic that are currently for the use of the owners, although guests are welcome to enjoy the views from the second storey and attic.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Mains controlled smoke detectors are situated in the lounge, all corridors, stairways and attic. There are separate battery-controlled smoke detectors in each guest bedroom.

In the event of a fire, the smoke detectors would sound.

The building can be evacuated by the front door.

Please advise us if there is any reason that you may need additional assistance with these procedures.

Smoking is not permitted anywhere in Mount House including the front entrance of the property and garden.

Wi-Fi reception is of average quality at Mount House.

We welcome your feedback to help us improve the service we offer.  If you have any comments please contact Ruth by email ruthdenison@outlook.com.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to get in contact.