While the London property market has experienced a challenging period in recent years, buyers can still expect to pay upwards of £400,000 for a one-bedroom flat in many boroughs. However, property hunters looking outside the capital with a similar budget can discover an extraordinary array of unusual homes across England and Wales.
Just last week, a four-bedroom house in Devon converted from a subterranean Victorian reservoir went up for auction with a guide price around that value. Other unique homes for that price or below are also on sale, from a £375,000 converted church in Wrexham to a £395,000 railway station in Cumbria. You could also snap up a windmill in Suffolk for £350,000, a former coaching inn in Norfolk for £375,000, or a barn conversion in the Yorkshire Dales for £375,000. A former schoolhouse in Devon is on sale for £320,000, while a fisherman's cottage in Kent is priced at £400,000, and an old chapel in Nottinghamshire for £375,000.
Converted Church in Welsh Countryside for £375,000
When St Peter's Church was constructed in 1894, it was intended to host services for worshippers in the village of Brynteg in North Wales. But while the Grade II-listed building no longer serves such a purpose, it has been transformed into an astonishing four-bedroom home called 'Hare House'. The property, on sale for £375,000 with Town and Country, retains its magnificent stained-glass windows along with the original altar, pulpit, font, and bell with pull rope. Hare House has a large open-plan living area, mezzanine bedrooms, and a sizeable rear garden, located only two miles outside Wrexham city centre. The home in a semi-rural location has two bathrooms and is surrounded by scenic countryside, with local amenities such as a village shop, pub, and primary school.
Next Stop, a £395,000 Station on Historic Railway Line
For rail enthusiasts searching for a home with a difference, they would do well to consider this former station building constructed in 1876. The Old Station at Armathwaite sits on the historic Settle to Carlisle line, with trains still running past each day, and it was built out of local red sandstone. The property features four bedrooms, two of which are en-suite, a sandstone fireplace, large garden, and impressive views of the Eden Valley. On the market with H&H Land & Estates for £395,000, the building is spacious with high ceilings, ornate cornicing, and feature windows throughout. The village has amenities including a shop, post office, primary school, two pubs, a church, and scenic woodland walks along the River Eden.
Not Your Run of the Mill Home - for £325,000 in Suffolk
If you're searching for a new home and a new hobby, this historic 19th-century windmill on sale with a detached cottage and workshop could be just the ticket. Bardwell cottage and windmill, a Grade II*-listed building in the Suffolk village of the same name, is going up for auction for £325,000 for the first time since 1987. The windmill was built in 1823 and has stayed standing despite significant damage during a 1987 storm, with restoration work bringing it back to life. The site on sale with Auction House also has a 1,200 sq ft Victorian cottage which features four bedrooms, a sitting room, dining room, as well as a kitchen and breakfast room. The mill at the property, which is set along the River Blackbourne, is now fully operational by wind power or electricity to produce stoneground flour.
Pay £320,000 to Go Back to School in a Devon Town
For those who hated primary school, maybe give this a miss – but if you have fond memories of sitting cross-legged in assemblies, then this might be the home for you. A converted schoolhouse in Tiverton, Devon, has gone on the market for £320,000, featuring lattice-style windows, ornate mouldings, and exposed brickwork. The building with sweeping stairwells on sale with Diamond Estate Agents was built in 1842 before being used as church rooms and then became a private home in 2003. It has three bedrooms, including two doubles and one single, all with small-pane windows, while the first-floor space is open-plan with vaulted ceilings. The mezzanine level would offer a flexible space for families, while there is also a secluded walled courtyard with brick paving and gravel borders.
Combined Fishermen's Cottages in Reach of London
House-hunters searching for an unusual property within commuting distance of London could take a look at this charming Grade II-listed home in Kent. The property in Upnor just outside Rochester was formally two fishermen's cottages and is thought to date back around 400 years but is possibly even older. The main reception room has a sash window, character fireplace, and dual-sided log burner, and there is also a country cottage kitchen with access to the garden. On the first floor of the home - on sale for £400,000 with eXp World UK - there are three bedrooms and a study, all with sash windows and fireplaces. Upnor village is on the River Medway and has local amenities including four pubs, a castle, sailing and yacht club, tennis and cricket clubs, and a church.
Live Your Best Rural Life in a 16th Century Coaching Inn
In the small Norfolk village of New Buckenham, which dates back to the 12th century, this period cottage which was once part of a coaching inn has just gone on sale. The property, called 'The Beams', is a red-brick home full of character which includes a spacious kitchen/dining room and a drawing room with an open fireplace. Exposed beams can be found throughout, while four bedrooms are arranged over the first floor. There is also a garage and a large enclosed rear garden. The Grade-II listed property on sale for £375,000, originally constructed in the 16th century, also has planning approval for alterations and improvements. Estate agent William H Brown says there are two external taps, one of which has a thermostat, 'making it particularly practical for rinsing dogs after countryside walks'.
Stone-Built Chapel Dating Back More Than 160 Years
This former Wesleyan place of worship dates back to 1863, but is now a four-bedroom house in rural Lincolnshire on the market for £375,000. The property, called 'The Chapel', is a characterful stone-built home on sale with Newton Fallowell in the village of Ingoldsby about eight miles from Grantham. There is 1,635 sq ft of accommodation which retains various original features, and the property has a reception hall with a cloakroom as well as an open-plan kitchen. Four bedrooms, a study, and a shower room are also inside, along with a private driveway leading to a parking and turning area and a rear garden. You will also be able to make the most of a home office and wooden outbuildings, while a separate vegetable garden and chicken run have been created.
Picturesque Barn Conversion in Yorkshire Dales Hamlet
Many families looking for a peaceful countryside life will likely take a look at barn conversions – and this one of the best available for under £400,000. The two-bedroom cottage called 'The Stable' is located in the hamlet of Newbiggin within the stunning Bishopdale valley in the Yorkshire Dales. On the market for £375,000 with JR Hopper & Co, the property's picturesque and remote location provides scenic walks from the doorstep. You enter the property via the front door into a dining kitchen, while there is also a living and dining room. On the first floor are two double bedrooms with en-suites. Outside to the front, there is a lawned garden and a gravel driveway. To the rear is a terraced garden with a suntrap patio seating area and a natural waterfall feature.
