Yahoo Finance Property: 8 homes on the market which have secrets
Appearances can be deceptive as some houses aren’t quite what they seem, revealing big surprises once you’re over the threshold – or, in some cases, when you venture into the garden. From concealed spaces to quirky additions, all these properties have secrets to discover and are looking for new owners. Sales of the unexpected?
1. Wolverhampton, offers over £550,000
With four first floor bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a through sitting room/dining room and a spacious kitchen/living room, this family house looks pretty normal inside and out. However, once you walk round the side you’ll see its superpower straight away - an amazing garden that’s steeply tiered and contains grottos and caves, and wouldn’t be out of place in a Harry Potter film, Find out more by getting in touch with Purplebricks.
2. Macclesfield, Cheshire, £725,000
This sizeable five-bedroom home was bought brand new in 1995 but includes a much older feature – a crenellated garden wall that looks as if it’s part of a castle. It remained following the demolition of a neighbouring historic house but had fallen into disrepair and was covered in ivy. The owner – who’s lived there since it was built – insisted the builder left it in place and spent time restoring it and levelling the soil to reveal its full glory. He’s hoping the new owners will enjoy the garden and nearby attractions of the Peak District as much as his family has done over the years. Available through Gascoigne Halman.
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3. Kendal, Cumbria, £780,000
Grade II* Collinfield Manor House can trace its roots back to the beginning of the 17th century or even earlier, and has three bedrooms, a living room, formal dining room and a self-contained two-bedroom annex with rental potential. In addition it contains all the period details you’d hope to find in a well-preserved property from this era: panelled walls, mullioned windows, exposed beams, oak doors and brick and timber fireplaces. Inspect the dining room fireplace carefully and you’ll unveil a couple of secrets – a bayonet hidden above the mantle and a priest hole behind a panelled door. Via Hunters.
4. High Street, Bramham, West Yorkshire, £1.25m
Laurel Farmhouse is a charming four-bedroom period home dating from 1675 and full of exposed beams, stone walls and fireplaces. Uniquely it has its own private pub, fitted with a bar, pumps, optics and all the paraphernalia you’d expect to find down your local. You won’t be able to earn money by pouring pints as it can’t be run commercially and doesn’t have a licence but, on the plus side, you can set your own timings for last orders. Contact Carter Jonas.
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5. Pedwell, Bridgwater, Somerset, £1.5m
Former farmhouses often come with barns and other outbuildings but this one is something of a rarity as a converted chapel is attached to one corner. You’ll find a large hall/reception room, sitting and family rooms, a huge kitchen/dining room, five bedrooms and four bedrooms in the main house, while the chapel – which has its own entrance and can also be accessed from a concealed passageway in the kitchen – comprises an enormous open plan living/dining area with Gothic windows and a double bedroom and ensuite bathroom above. Through GTH.
6. Honiton, Devon, £1.6m
One of the area’s most recognisable landmarks, Bishops Tower is seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom farmhouse and an attached former water tower which is illuminated at night with multi-coloured floodlights. Over the past few years the Grade II listed property has undergone extensive renovation and the interior has been completely gutted and redecorated with new windows, electrics and a refitted roof. The tower could be transformed into luxury holiday accommodation subject to gaining planning permission. Via Humberts.
7. Moreton Paddox, Moreton Morrell, Warwick, £2m
Invisible House certainly lives up to its name as it’s ingeniously designed to reflect the surrounding birch trees, creating an optical illusion that camouflages its presence. The first of its kind in the UK, this deconstructed single storey dwelling is made up of eight pavilions clad in smoked, mirrored glass and connected via glazed walkways. Accommodation consists of four ensuite bedrooms, a kitchen/living/dining area, a living room and a plant room with adjoining cloakroom, all very minimalist with white walls and poured resin floors, and radiating out from a central lobby. Find out more from Knight Frank.
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8. Holland Park, London W14, £25m
Located in a super-exclusive enclave where the Beckhams, Simon Cowell and Robbie Williams all own homes, this detached, double-fronted villa is beautifully proportioned and arranged over four floors. It includes four main and two staff bedrooms – with the master suite taking up the entire first floor – and a vast kitchen/living/dining room and media room at lower ground level. The ground floor comprises a double reception room opening on to a terrace, a study and a snooker room with a cloakroom discreetly tucked away behind a hidden door in the bookcase. Via Knight Frank.
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