Britain's smallest castle has been put on the market for £330,000, offering a unique slice of history in the Herefordshire town of Ross-on-Wye. The Grade II-listed property, known as Gazebo Tower, dates back to the 19th century and was originally built in 1833 as a viewing tower.
Despite its regal title, the castle is compact at just 645 square feet (59 square metres), with each floor measuring roughly five metres across. The kitchen, living room and bedroom are each located on their own floor, and to maximise space, the bath has been placed under the bed. A separate ensuite wetroom juts off the bedroom, and a rooftop terrace offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including the River Wye, the Black Mountains and the spire of Saint Mary's Church.
The property, which also features a winding staircase with purple carpet and Gothic-style lancet windows, is being marketed by estate agents Hamilton Stiller. They describe it as one of the most 'striking features' in the area. The asking price is below the current UK average house price of £341,400, and the listing shows that the price was reduced on September 26.
Gazebo Tower was previously owned by Herefordshire Council, but was first offered for public sale in 2001. At that time, access to the first floor was only possible via a ladder. The successful buyer, Tony Billingham, invested many years in renovating the tower into a liveable home and opened it to visitors on open days, with donations going to local charities.
The castle is 10 miles from Monmouth, 20 miles from Gloucester and 14 miles from Ledbury, where the nearest train station offers direct services to London in around two and a half hours. There is also potential to extend the property, with a high rate of local planning approvals in the area.
