Gothic 'castle' complete with a 50ft tower with battlements and arrow slits is for sale for £220,000 in a modest street of £65,000 two-storey semis
- Balgray Tower dwarfs its neighbours in Springburn, Glasgow and enjoys one of the best views in the city
- Grade B-listed fairytale property, complete with battlements and arrow slits, is on the market for £220,000
- A spiral staircase leads to the top of the tower, which is reputedly haunted by a maid who lived and died there
A Gothic villa complete with a reputedly haunted 50ft tower and surrounded by modest semi-detached homes and council blocks is up for sale for just £220,000.
The 19th century Balgray Tower dwarfs its neighbours in Springburn, Glasgow and enjoys one of the best views in the city.
The Grade B-listed fairytale property, complete with battlements and arrow slits, is on the market for £220,000 - in an area where the average property costs just £65,000.
A spiral staircase leads to the top of the tower, from which 360-degree views of the city - including neighbours - can be enjoyed.
The 1830 property, which is also known as Breeze’s Tower or Duncan’s Tower, also features its own mature and well maintained private gardens.
This Gothic villa complete with a 50ft tower is for sale in a modest Glasgow street of two-storey, semi-detached homes for £220,000
The home has been 'carefully and sympathetically maintained by the present owner' and is worth four times more than neighbouring properties
The property boasts a garden room packed with greenery that leads into the private walled garden
A spiral staircase leads to the top of the tower, from which 360-degree views of the city - including neighbours - can be enjoyedThe tower, which is said to be haunted by a maid who lived and died there, was built for the merchant owner to watch for ships containing his goods arriving on the Clyde.
The grand property has high ceilings and is packed with original features
According to the sellers Purple Bricks, the home has been 'carefully and sympathetically maintained by the present owner'.
The brochure states: 'A truly unique opportunity to acquire this 'B'listed character home offering stunning accommodation in this stand-out property.
'Originally built in the early 19th century in the style of David Hamilton, this gothic villa with castellated tower has a fascinating history and the property is truly one of the most interesting and unforgettable homes introduced recently to the Glasgow market.
'The Castellated Tower which is accessed by a spiral staircase gives stunning panoramic 360 degree views of all parts of Glasgow and beyond.
'The Tower has round -headed bipartites, some with hood- moulds and slits.'
They added: 'The property sits within its own mature and well maintained private gardens with driveways at either side of the home and good sized garage provide ample off street parking.
'It has been carefully and sympathetically maintained by the present owners and its internal presentation truly reflects the character and ambience of the home.'
The tower, which is said to be haunted by a maid who lived and died there, was built for the merchant owner to watch for ships containing his goods arriving on the Clyde
The 1830 property, one of the most recognisable in Glasgow, has its own mature and well maintained private gardens.
The house and tower was built in around 1830 in the style of architect David Hamilton, who designed the notable Nelson Monument in Glasgow
The home was built in around 1830 in the style of achitect David Hamilton who designed the notable Nelson Monument in Glasgow city centre.
According to the website British Listed Buildings, the home was built for Duncan of Mosesfield for whom Hamilton had worked before.
And the Lost Glasgow Facebook page says local legend claims there are two ghosts: one of a maid who died in the tower and another of a lady in a long green dress carrying a small pet dog.
Couple were so in love with the church where they married that they bought it, renovated it and turned it into a stunning four-bed holiday home
- Bill and Alex Monroe were married in the church in 1987 and even christened all four of their sons there
- The couple bought the church in 1998 and have since spent more than £200,000 converting the property
- The church has an array of original features showcasing its historic past, including a Gothic archway
- Stunning photographs show the four bedrooms and a sitting room formed from the original altar area
Bill Monroe, 71, and wife Anne, 65, married at St Luke's Church in the Kielder National Park, Northumberland, in 1987 and have since had each of their four sons christened in front of the grand stained-glass window.
In 1998 they bought the church and have since spent more than £200,000 completely converting the 1818 property.
Scroll down for video
A couple were so in love with the church they were married in they bought it, renovated it and turned it into a stunning holiday home. St Luke's (pictured) in the Kielder National Park was snapped up by Bill and Anne Monroe
Bill Monroe, 71, and wife Anne, 65, married at St Luke's Church in the Kielder National Park in 1987 and have since had each of their four sons christened in front of the grand stained-glass window
Stunning: The sitting room (pictured) is formed from the original altar area and contains luxury carpets and sofas
Stunning photographs show the four bedrooms, a sitting room formed from the original altar area and a newly-created mezzanine level after the restoration.
The church has an array of original features showcasing its historic past, including a fully-restored Victorian stained-glass window and Gothic archway, as well as exposed Georgian stonework, flagstone flooring and panelling.
Anne, who herself was christened at the church, said: 'I've grown up with the church and Bill and I wanted to revive its beautiful period charm for people to enjoy again.'I have always lived in the house next door and I was even christened in the church myself.
'I married Bill here and we have had all of our children christened here, when I saw there was the opportunity to purchase it I couldn't miss it.'
The couple's sons Nicholas, 28, Edward, 26 and twins William and James, 23, were all christened at the church as babies and Anne remembers events spanning her life associated with the building.
The couple spent more than £200,000 renovating what was formerly known as St Luke's church (pictured during the renovation)
Luxury: The church has an array of original features showcasing its historic past, including a fully-restored Victorian stained-glass window and Gothic archway
Upgrade: Anne herself was christened at the church (pictured above during renovation work) and could not pass up the opportunity to buy it when it came on to the market
Anne met husband Bill at London University while they were both studying Art History and their passion for architecture and old buildings spurred them on to take on the huge project.
Anne added: 'Bill and I have renovated properties in the past and felt this was the right time to convert and renovate the building.
'We have renovated our own Georgian rectory next door and we are so lucky to be in the national park.
'We felt that by buying the church when it became redundant that we could save it and I'm so happy with all of the work that has been done to turn it into what the church has become.'
The historic church was decommissioned as numbers of the congregation fell due to its remote location and nearby churches being easier to reach.
The couple politely declined to say how much the property was purchased for but decommissioned church buildings don't usually command a high purchase price
The historic church was decommissioned as numbers of the congregation fell due to its remote location and nearby churches being easier to reach
Visitors can stay at the distinctive property (pictured) for between £700 and £1800 depending on season
The church has four bedrooms and boasts nods to its historic past, including a fully-restored Victorian stained-glass window and Gothic archway, as well as exposed Georgian stonework, flagstone flooring and panelling
It went on sale by the Church of England and Anne acquired the church in 1998 with her husband - but due to restrictions of use based on the building as part of the sale agreement, she could only use it for personal use and house storage at the time.
She decided to go to the church commissioners at the Church of England to challenge this decision and explain their desire to change the use of the church to become a holiday home.
The commissioners agreed and work started to restore the building in 2010 by Historic Property Restoration Ltd and local architect Kevin Doonan, being completed in 2013 for the church's opening as the unique holiday home.
The couple decided to rename the building to Greystead Old Church and it has proved hugely popular with tourists visiting the national park which is famed for it's dark skies and stargazing opportunities.
The couple politely declined to say how much the property was purchased for but decommissioned church buildings don't usually command a high purchase price.
Anne said: 'It is such a beautiful church and because of my history there we wanted to feel like we had continued its legacy'
The historic building has been brought to the present day thanks to a £200,000 refurbishment
The couple now has plans to renovate the church even further, with a spiral staircase up to the clock tower containing a panoramic room for stargazing - a popular reason for visits - in the pipeline in the near future
The former place of worship in Kielder National Park, has been transformed into a luxury holiday home by Bill and Anne Monroe, who married there in 1987
Visitors can stay at the distinctive property for between £700 and £1800 depending on season and Anne can't believe it's popularity since the grand restoration.
Anne added: 'It was agreed when we bought it that we would love to renovate it into a holiday home.
'Since it opened we are so busy and tend to be fully booked for up to 50 weeks of the year.
'The restoration of the church was funded by a generous grant from Northumberland Uplands Leader and the stained and other Victorian glass windows restoration was funded by the Northumberland National Park's Sustainable Development Fund.'
'It is such a beautiful church and because of my history there we wanted to feel like we had continued its legacy.
'We have been very pleased with the result, and I was expecting it to be hugely popular, but the amount of bookings we've had has surpassed my expectations.'
The couple now has plans to renovate the church even further, with a spiral staircase up to the clock tower containing a panoramic room for stargazing - a popular reason for visits - in the pipeline in the near future.
No comments:
Post a Comment