www.brown-co.com C a r i b
ROCK HALL ESTATE HOUSE b e
Castries, St Lucia, West Indies a n
A substantial, historic Colonial Estate house, formerly of the Rock Hall Estate, located within the Castries city boundary, offering stunning views over the City and harbour. Set within 1.90 acres (approx sts) of formal grounds with mature palms and tropical hardwood trees lining a formal sweeping private driveway.
Guide £280,000 – circa US$555,000 or EC$1,500,000
UK office – Old Bank of England Court, Queen Street, Norwich, NR2 4TA. UK Tel +44 (0)1603 629871 Fax +44 (0)1603 616199 Mobile +44 (0)7768 465731 Email [email protected] St Lucia office – American Drywall Building, Vide Bouteille, Castries Tel 001 758 451 6151 Fax 001 758 451 6152 Email [email protected] Property
INTRODUCTION Description Rock Hall Estate House, one of the older properties in St Lucia, is a unique and historic property, and offers a rare opportunity for those with an interest and passion to preserve the past within a property of character and combine with a Residential (as currently), Institutional or Tourism related use (subject to planning).
View from the upper floors of Rock Hall The House/Land - Accessed via a sweeping paved driveway, lined with Queen palm and mango trees from the Rock Hall road, the house rests within 1.90 acres (subject to survey) of formal grounds; once the walled gardens to the Estate house. Some of the original walls still remain, together with outbuildings and paved pathways. The land parcel is 82,764sqft (subject to survey - Parcel no 0847D570 within the St Lucia land registry. The main Estate has long been sold away, and Rock Hall represents a Formerly the main estate house for the Rock Hall unique opportunity to preserve this example of late Estate, this is one of St Lucia’s unique heritage 19th century building for generations to come with properties. Probably dating back to late 1800’s, either a residential, or an institutional use perhaps unlike many of the older properties in St Lucia which encompassing historic, educational, or community are of timber construction, Rock Hall is a substantial aspects of a commercial application within this quarter stone built, 3 storey property, with internal timber of Castries. (subject to planning). paneling and polished floors providing spacious Accommodation: - (All measurements are approximate) rooms and high ceilings typical of the era. First GROUND FLOOR (1,920sqft) occupied by the Clarke family – Sir Frederick Clarke was the 1st governor to St Lucia - the property oozes ambience and heritage with wide covered verandas to the ground floor and magnificent views over the city of Castries
Location – located within the Castries City boundary, behind the Rock Hall senior primary school, the property is within walking distance from the city centre Castries, the capital of St Lucia, very much the centre of business for the Island. Castries boasts approaching 40% of the national population of 157,000 (2001 census) and hosts the majority of corporate and institutional offices of commerce A wide, sweeping verandah with views of Castries and and Government. Caribbean Sea surrounds the ground floor. Outbuildings and a paved yard area are located to Relevant authorities in St Lucia are keen to see the rear of the house and towards the western historic properties such as this preserved for the stream/gully boundary. What were once formal future, though there is no preservation or listing gardens (still with banana, mango and palm trees) policy in place. provides ample space for restoration, or further development to the front/ eastern side of the property. Room Dimensions original wooden internal window shutters and Living area (35’ x 20’) louvered doors feature throughout the ground floor of the property and open to the covered verandah, providing an open and light ambience throughout.
FIRST FLOOR (1,920sqft) All bedrooms have wooden floors and shuttered windows. Bathrooms are basic but functional and there is ample space and scope to improve. depending on use and requirements.
Bedroom 1 (20’ x 18’) Bedroom 2 (20’ x 18’) Bedroom 3 (15’ x 15’) Polished floors, chandeliers and original wooden Bedroom 4 (15’ x 15’) shutters at all of the windows provide a stately Bathroom 1 (14’ x 7’) setting to the main living area of Rock Hall. Double Bathroom 2 (8’ 6’) wooden louvered doors open to the veranda overlooking the city and towards the Caribbean SECOND FLOOR (1,748sq.ft) Sea. Rear Entrance Hall Generous entrance hall with timber paneling, providing access to the kitchen and dining room. East Entrance Hall (35’ x 8’) Large central hall area running the width of the house, with external access from the Easterly verandah (not currently used). Kitchen (15’ X 15’) – Basic kitchen which opens to the verandah and garden area. Original tiled floor, sink, work surfaces and built in cupboards. Dining Room / Bedroom (15’ x 13’) Currently used as a first floor bedroom, with door to staircase and hallway. Stair Hallway (22’ x 8’) - wooden staircase Attic (46’ x 38’) – with stairs leading from the main staircase to the second floor attic studio (unfinished), with board floor and washroom, under a pitched roof, could provide additional accommodation, storage, or a self contained studio.
Viewing strictly and only by appointment through sole agents Brown & Co’s Caribbean office. Mobile 001 758 584 7133 Postal Address – PO Box CP5919, Castries, St Lucia, West Indies
These Particulars were prepared in July 2007. General – Wooden internal walls/paneling and
IMPORTANT NOTICES Brown & Co (Caribbean) Ltd for themselves and for the Vendors or Lessors of this Property give notice that: 1. These particulars are intended to give a fair and accurate general outline only for the guidance of intending Purchasers or Lessees and they do not constitute an offer or contract or any part of an offer or contract. 2. All descriptions, dimensions, references to condition and other items in these Particulars are given as a guide only and no responsibility is assumed by Brown & Co (Caribbean) Ltd for the accuracy of individual items. Intending Purchasers or Lessees should not rely on them as statements or representations of fact and should satisfy themselves as to the correctness of each item by inspection or by making independent enquiries. 3. Intending Purchasers or Lessees should make their own independent enquiries regarding use or past use of the property, necessary permissions for use and occupation, potential uses and any others matters affecting the property prior to purchase. 4. Brown & Co (Caribbean) Ltd and any person in their employ does not have the authority, whether in these Particulars, during negotiations or otherwise, to make or give any representation or warranty in relation to this property. No responsibility is taken by Brown & Co. for any error, omission of mis-statement in these particulars. 5. No responsibility can be accepted for any costs or expenses incurred by intending Purchasers or Lessees in inspecting the property, making further enquiries or submitting offers for the Property. 6. All prices are quoted subject to contract and exclusive of VAT, except where otherwise stated. 7. Brown & Co is the trading name of Brown & Co (Caribbean) Ltd a St Lucia registered company. www.brown-co.com
St Lucia – Background Information C a r
St Lucia is 27 miles long and 14 miles wide, lying at 13˚ The climate is tropical with mild temperatures all year i 54’ north of the equator and 60˚ 50’ west. One of the round, an average of 27˚C, being moderately hotter b b Winward Islands, it is located in the middle of the in the summer. June to October is the rainy season e Eastern Caribbean when occasional showers are more frequent. a chain of islands and is n 21 miles south of Local currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) Martinique and 90 which is pegged to the US dollar at $2.67. English is miles north west of the official language of St Lucia with a French-based Barbados. Creole Patois being commonly spoken by locals.
The island has a There are also major International tourism population of 163,000 development projects taking place in the south of St and approximately Lucia; the US$1bn exclusive “Le Paradis” 47,000 households, of which some 40% are located development with a course dropping some 600ft from within the capital Castries and Castries district (census top to bottom and nestled within 500 acres of tropical results of 2001). The island was at the centre of the coastal scenery promises to be the premier colonial struggle between the French and the British in Caribbean golf resort. Together with hosting major the 18th Century, changing hands 14 times, before matches of the Cricket World Cup in early 2007 finally being ceded to the British in 1814. (including the England team), demand and value for Independence was granted in 1979 and since then, St rental and freehold property in the recent past has Lucia has been a stable democracy within the British exploded and looks set to continue to do so over the Commonwealth. next few years.
The capital Castries (in the North of the Island) Property Ownership in St Lucia surrounds an attractive harbour which cruise ships regularly visit. St Lucia has two airports; regional flights St Lucia has a Land Registry system (introduced in the using Vigie, Castries in the north (with connections to mid 1980s) and all land parcels and, as a result, all and from the new Barbados hub and other islands), distinct associated freehold property ownerships, and Hewanorra International Airport located in Vieux carry a unique land parcel title identifier number. Fort in the south, approximately 1 hour from the Mapping of new subdivisions of land and allocation capital (by road) which receives regularly of new parcel numbers is maintained by the Lands international flights from the UK and USA (including BA, and Surveys Department. Virgin and XL). Foreign property ownership in St Lucia is well St Lucia’s most famous landmark is the spectacular established. As with many overseas’ jurisdictions, Alien twin mountain view Landholding Licenses are necessary for non St Lucian of The Pitons, a new nationals. Once granted they are permanent and do World Heritage Site not require renewal, but are granted for a specific added to the property and are not transferable. Application and UNESCO List in 2004. granting of an Alien Landholding License can take up Also at Soufriere are to 3 months and is normally handled by the buyer’s the Diamond Falls lawyer during the early stages of the purchase and the unique process. The Development Control Authority (DCA) is Mineral Baths, built responsible for regulating and controlling the orderly in the ruins of the development of land and property in St Lucia. 18th century structure of the Diamond Estate with hot, thermal fed bubbling pools close to the sulphur springs Under current legislation, a stamp duty of 2% applies and the “drive in” volcano. The island boasts beautiful on purchases of land and property. Though there is sandy beaches, an unspoilt rainforest and a similar no Capital Gains Tax, a vendor’s tax of 5% on diversity of activities and entertainment from nationals and 10% on non nationals is applied on all International cricket to the Jazz festival and Carnival property sales. Property taxes are currently applied to golf! on annual rental value and are relatively benign at 5% of a 1990 base rental value. To the north of the island is Rodney Bay Marina, an attractive modern yacht marina, fringed by the St Lucia has a relatively new, but well regulated yachting facilities and the main tourism development offshore financial services sector, which for some area. Upmarket private villas, restaurants, golfing and qualifying businesses, offers the opportunity of an associated hotel / resort facilities, spas, etc, are all “international business company” (IBC) registration available in St Lucia which has a mature tourism with advantageous tax rates and favorable industry and established foreign property ownership administrative procedures. and rental.
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