LAST year was the 100th anniversary of the death of Arthur Bell, the renowned Victorian landscape artist and member of the Royal Academy. How many readers know that Arthur lived for a time in Bournemouth and painted various scenes of the area, inspired by the natural landscapes such as the sea and cliffs.

In 1870 Dr Thomas Armetriding Compton set up a company to develop Southbourne heathland. By 1891 there were 80 buildings, including the parish church of St Katharine's, a terrace of shops, a hotel, a school, a winter garden and even a pier.

In the same year Arthur Bell, his wife Nancy, a prolific author and translator, and their children Kenneth, 6, Eric 5 and Irene 3 are listed as 'new arrivals' in the edition of the Bournemouth Visitors' Directory. The Bells had briefly lived in two other houses in Southbourne before moving into Rastgarth which was built to Arthur's own design.

The Bells moved into the house in March 1892 and although the family spent different periods of time away from the house, through work and commitments, Rastgarth seemed to have provided them with their spiritual home.

"Rastgarth was double-fronted with a door facing Twynham Road, flanked by a rectangular bay on the western side and a five-sided bay to the east. Above the front door ran a balcony to enjoy the sun and possibly the view of the sea. The house was built of red brick in stretcher bonding with the upper storey walls clad with terracotta tiling featuring scalloped edging. Such details were typical of Domestic Revival architecture, a new reaction against Neo-classical and Gothic that was introduced in the 1870s. This was possibly an early form of the Arts and Crafts design," says a recently published book 'Rastgarth. Memories of a unique house' compiled by the arts project Six and Caleb Developments in memory of Arthur Bell.

The eastern end of the house had high, shallow windows under the eaves along three of its sides. In contrast the ground floor window at the rear was tall, allowing in a maximum of the north light favoured by artists, for the large room which was Arthur's studio.

There was also a massive chimney breast on the eastern elevation where high up Arthur had a sandstone plaque set in the side wall of the house. It was dominated by a diagonally aligned carving of a bell on which was carved a large square-topped 'A' for Arthur and over that was draped an 'n' for Nancy. Around the bell was a line from Alfred Lord Tennyson's In Memoriam: Ring out the false, ring in the true.

In 1903 the Bournemouth Graphic described Rastgarth as " an ideal painter's home. Nooks and crannies abound; large airy passages seem to lead to everywhere. The lofty well-lighted rooms are filled to overflowing with those old treasures that are specially dear to an artist's heart. On entering the studio - unlike studios generally in its neatness and air of comfort - one is immediately attracted to the fine carved oak chimney-piece, which was bought by Mr Bell in Belgium. The recess is lined with genuine Belgian tiles, and seat placed either side of the hearth suggest the poetry of cosiness. Equally delightful to the eye of the connoisseur are the drawing room, the dining room, and the hall, equipped as they are with antique furniture, and many rare articles of virtue."

In 1916 Arthur, at the age of 67, died of a heart attack at Rastgarth. The funeral was held at St Katharine's Church, Southbourne.

The following year Nancy held an exhibition of his paintings at the house with the entrance fee going towards the Arthur Bell Memorial Fund for the Blind. Arthur had a keen interest in the Bournemouth Blind Aid Society.

After the Bells, Rastgarth passed through a number of hands with Marjorie Ogilvie purchasing the property in 1958. Passing to her daughter Ruth Lucas in 1977, it remained in the same family until the three Lucas brothers agreed to sell the house to Caleb Developments in 2015.

"Sadly Rastgarth had to be demolished as the old house had too many problems to allow it to be saved," said Caleb's director Andy Green who grew up in Southbourne and remembers Rastgarth as a child.

He was determined to document the history of Rastgarth and its connection with Arthur and Nancy Bell for future generations.

Artists from the art project Six held an exhibition at the house before it was replaced with the Rastgarth apartment block. The stone bell plaque was donated to the Hengistbury Head Visitors Centre. Arthur's paintings can be found in the Red House Museum.

For more information on 'Rastgarth. Memories of a unique house', contact andy@calebdevelopment.co.uk