Swains Road, Bembridge

The Gables, a truly distinctive family home set within an enviable plot of approximately 0.37 acres in the highly sought-after Swains Road, Bembridge. Built in 1923, this handsome residence combines period character with a generous layout, offering versatile living across three floors in one of the village’s most desirable coastal settings.

Swains Road itself is regarded as one of Bembridge’s premier addresses. Lined with characterful houses and leafy verges, it offers peace and privacy while being just a short stroll from the sandy Swains Beach and the vibrant village centre. Bembridge is often described as one of the Isle of Wight’s most attractive villages, with its three beaches, working harbour, and thriving community. It is also home to independent shops, restaurants and a sailing club.

The property boasts a fascinating maritime connection: the striking wood panelling within the principal rooms was salvaged from the SS Empress Queen, a steel-hulled paddle steamer of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. Chartered by the Admiralty during the First World War as a troop ship, she saw service before running aground off Bembridge in 1916, where she was abandoned. This rich heritage lends The Gables a truly unique provenance.

Set well back from the road, the house is approached via a red-brick pathway and framed by expansive gardens with mature walnut, magnolia, ash, mimosa, and apple trees. A sweeping driveway provides ample parking, complemented by a large timber shed, summer house, and greenhouse.

Inside, the accommodation extends over three floors, filled with natural light and period detail. From the Inglenook fireplace in the sitting room to the delightful triple-aspect breakfast room overlooking the gardens, this home offers a rare combination of elegance, history, and practicality.

This exceptional home represents a rare opportunity to acquire a property of provenance and scale in one of Bembridge’s most desirable addresses. The Gables is a house of character and history, beautifully positioned to enjoy both the tranquillity of its gardens and the coastal lifestyle that makes Swains Road so sought after.

Entrance Porch

Approached by a red-brick pathway, the porch is fully glazed and finished with tiled flooring. A part-glazed timber door opens into:

Entrance Hall

A welcoming hall featuring ornate wood panelling, stripped and polished wooden floors, and decorative ceiling details with picture rails. The staircase rises to the first floor with storage beneath, and doors lead to the main reception rooms.

Sitting Room

A bright and characterful space with a picture window seat to the front, an Inglenook fireplace housing a multi-fuel stove, and rich wood panelling with built-in seating. The room enjoys dual-aspect windows to the front and side, three radiators, and French doors with glazed side panels opening to:

Conservatory

Glazed to the rear and side elevations with doors opening directly into the garden.

Dining Room

A formal room with a bay window to the front and an additional wide window to the side with radiator beneath, creating a light and versatile entertaining space.

Kitchen/Breakfast Room

A generous kitchen fitted with a range of wall, floor, and drawer units, complemented by worktops and a stainless-steel sink and drainer. Appliances include a five-ring gas hob and twin eye-level ovens. A built-in storage cupboard surrounds the chimney breast.
The breakfast area enjoys a triple aspect with views over the garden to the rear, a circular side window, and quarry tile flooring. Additional features include a serving hatch to the dining room, two radiators, and a door to the rear porch and side passage. The gas boiler is also housed here.

Cloakroom

A large cloakroom with extensive wall-to-ceiling storage, integral WC, hand basin with mixer tap, radiator, and rear window overlooking the garden. The hot water cylinder is also located here, with additional space for items such as an ironing board and general household storage.

First Floor Landing

With built-in triple storage cupboards and staircase rising to the second floor.

Bedroom 1

A generous double bedroom with triple-aspect windows to the front and side, some charming sloping ceilings adding character, built-in wardrobes, and storage cupboards.

Shower Room

Fitted with a corner shower enclosure and sliding glazed door, integral WC, hand basin with vanity storage, and two chrome heated towel rails. Window to the front and further built-in storage cupboards.

Bedroom 2

Window to the front elevation. Radiator.

Bedroom 3

Enjoying a garden view to the rear elevation, radiator.

Bathroom

Fitted with a panelled bath with shower over, hand basin with vanity storage, WC, and window to the rear overlooking the garden.

Second Floor Landing

With loft access and Velux window.

Bedroom 4

Currently used as a craft room this bedroom enjoys dual-aspect windows to the front and side. The dormer window is double glazed. Radiator.

WC

Fitted with an integral flush WC, vanity storage unit with ceramic hand basin and mixer tap. Velux-style window.

Bedroom 5

Versatile space currently used as a home office with under-eaves storage to both sides, picture window overlooking the garden, additional Velux style window to the side, radiator, built-in cupboard, and loft access.

Outside Areas

The gardens are mainly laid to lawn with a variety of mature trees, hedges, and shrubs bordering. Trees include walnut, mimosa, ash, magnolia, and apple. The driveway provides ample parking for several vehicles and the tandem style garage will fit a boat and a car if required. Other outbuildings include a 20’ x 10’ timber shed, a summer house (2.389m x 2.443m), and a greenhouse.

Location

The Gables is situated in a highly regarded residential setting on Swains Road, within the ever-popular coastal village of Bembridge. The property is well placed for local amenities, with Bembridge village centre offering a good selection of independent shops, cafés, restaurants, pubs, a pharmacy and everyday conveniences, along with Bembridge Harbour, the lifeboat station and a choice of beaches nearby. Bembridge is particularly well known for its coastal lifestyle, with lovely walks along the Isle of Wight Coastal Path, around the harbour, through St Helens and across Bembridge and Culver Downs, where there are far-reaching sea and countryside views. The area is also served by Southern Vectis bus route 8, linking Bembridge with Ryde, St Helens, Sandown and Newport, with nearby stops including Crossway and other village stops. Families are well catered for, with Bembridge Primary School within the village and further schooling available in nearby Ryde, Sandown and across the Island. Overall, this is a peaceful yet convenient location, combining village amenities, beaches, coastal walks and transport links in one of the Isle of Wight’s most desirable seaside communities.

IMPORTANT NOTICE – PROPERTY PARTICULARS

These particulars are intended to give a fair and overall indication of the property and do not constitute any part of an offer or contract. They are provided in good faith and are believed to be correct; however, Elliott Lincoln gives no representation or warranty (whether express or implied) as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information contained within these particulars. All statements, descriptions, photographs, measurements, floor plans and any other information are for guidance only and must not be relied upon as statements of fact.
Any prospective purchaser must satisfy themselves by inspection and/or by making independent enquiries as to the correctness of all information, including (without limitation) the condition of the property, boundaries, title, tenure, planning permissions, building regulations, consents, rights of way, restrictive covenants, access, services, service charges/ground rent (if applicable), and the location and proximity of any facilities or features of specific importance to them. Distances, areas and measurements are approximate and are not guaranteed.
Fixtures, fittings, contents and furnishings are not included in the sale unless specifically stated. Any reference to appliances, services, utilities, heating systems or installations is given in good faith but these have not been tested by Elliott Lincoln, and no warranty is given as to their working order, efficiency or safety. Purchasers are strongly advised to commission appropriate surveys/inspections and to obtain verification from their solicitor and/or other professional advisers prior to exchange of contracts.
Elliott Lincoln is the trading name of Adele Smith Ltd, and its Associates, agents and representatives are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property.