New look for one of the best historic holiday cottages in Robin Hood's Bay

That’s how Beth Thornton managed to buy Green Bank House, a fabulous Grade II listed and double fronted fisherman’s cottage with breathtaking views out to sea

She already had a much-loved second home in the village that she also let for holidays but her family had outgrown it and something bigger was needed.

“One of my neighbours at my old cottage mentioned that the owners of Green Bank House were planning to downsize and so I approached them, looked round and we agreed a sale,” says Beth, who is a chartered surveyor with a gimlet eye for detail and a gift for interior design.

“I fell in love with the house immediately. It’s set back in a quiet spot on Fisherhead, a pedestrian only row. The views are stunning and it’s within a minute’s walk of the beach.”

At 40 per cent bigger than her previous cottage, it has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, along with an open-plan living space downstairs.

Built in 1706, the property is used by Beth and her family but is also available to others via her luxury holiday let business, Sand and the City, which includes two York townhouses plus Seapink Cottage in Whitby, which sleeps eight.

Like all her holiday homes, Beth has put her own stamp on Green Bank House, though she was given a head start with the decor as the previous owners were creative and had an eye for design.

One of their most striking legacies is a boat bed - the RHB19. It resides in the main ensuite bedroom, which stretches across the whole of the second floor.

The double bed, which has been built into the eaves, was made by a local joiner as a quirky but practical feature.

Beth has updated it by mounting a smart TV with complimentary Netflix on the mast of the boat, which also boasts a storage space below deck.

This spacious dual aspect room also has panoramic views and from the boat bed, guests can look out to the south over pantile rooftops to the beach and the coastline at Ravenscar, famous for its colony of seals.

The main bedroom also has a freestanding roll top bath where you can lie back and look out to sea. The large second bedroom has a double bed and the third bedroom has two twin beds and is for children only.

On the ground floor, the open plan sitting/dining room has a cosy log burning stove and a large corner sofa and, like all the rooms, it has maritime inspired accessories including a starfish garland and a net with glass fishing floats.

The kitchen, which has a Rayburn, is home to a decorative Octopus wall hanging from Treat Therapy, which is based in the village.

“I like using nautical accessories in the rooms , including bunting from Seakisses.co.uk. It’s not something you would do in your own home but it adds a bit of fun to a holiday property,” says Beth, who likes to support the local economy where possible.

As in all her properties, art plays an important part and so she was thrilled to hear that Green Bank House was formerly home to Castleford born artist Albert Wainwright (1898 – 1943), who was a classmate and friend of Henry Moore.

As soldiers during the First World War, they wrote beautifully illustrated letters to one another. Wainwright, who was also friends with Barbara Hepworth, was famous for his watercolours of Robin Hood’s Bay, many of which were created from the property’s master bedroom.

Beth has added contemporary artwork from local artists and businesses including pieces from Whitby based Kate Smith who paints local landscape scenes and sea-life.

There is also work from the Staithes Gallery by Ian Burke who is drawing master at Eton College, along with pictures bought from expert framers The Copper and Grain Company on Skinner Street in Whitby.

Art by illustrator, surface pattern designer and card publisher Jessica Hogarth, who has a gift shop in Robin Hood’s Bay, features too and her own design “Coastal Cottages” wallpaper is in the bathrooms.

While Robin Hood’s Bay is a hotspot for holiday property, it still has a strong sense of community.

“There is a lovely sense of community here between locals, shop owners and holiday property owners. For those who have holiday cottages, it’s much more than just an investment.

“For me, my cottage in Robin Hood’s Bay is my happy place and by letting it and making it the best it can be, it means other people can enjoy it too,” says Beth.

“The first guests who stayed said ‘We’ve been coming to Robin Hood’s Bay for 30 years and Green Bank House is the best place we have stayed yet’, which made all the work we did on it worth it.”

*Green Bank House sleeps six and allows for one well-behaved dog and also comes with a parking permit for Fisherhead car park. www.sandandthecity.co.uk or visitwww.facebook.com/sandandthecity.