Those who know me know that there is nothing I find more desirable in a property than a moat. I am not entirely sure why I find them so fascinating. It could be because I have always been interested in castles and medieval warfare. It could be because, as an introvert, I find it reassuring that people can’t just walk up to your door and say hello without siege weaponry. Perhaps it is both.
The issue with moats in general, beyond general upkeep (don’t want a moat full of algae, do you. You want people to see the skeletons of your previously defeated enemies, as a warning), is that they are usually attached to homes that we would file in the bracket of being ‘quite expensive’. Imagine my joy in finding this cottage, within a moat, on sale for £475,000 with Fine & Country.
A (relatively) affordable moat. What a time to be alive. There are, of course, reasons for this. The cottage (Thurland Cottage) is within the grounds of Thurland Castle, which has been developed into 12 houses and apartments. So you will have to share the use of the moat. But you will not have to share the two-bedroom cottage. So that’s a start.
The property is a single floor situation, with a large kitchen/dining room, a sitting room, and a vast master bedroom with en suite and dressing room/study. The interiors have been sensitively restored as part of the development, providing a pleasing mix of old and new throughout.
The shared gardens extend to some 10 acres, and include a tennis court, as well as private parking.
And the home itself is situated in the Lune Valley, which borders both the Forest of Bowland and The Yorkshire Dales, with the Lake District a short drive away. There are plenty of great pubs around, including the local pub in Tunstall, while Kirkby Lonsdale is fewer than 5 miles away.
Credit: Getty Images
Millennial misery continues, as they become first generation of homebuyers to see mortgage repayments increase
New data published in Hamptons' Generational Affordability Index is bad news for those born between 1981–95 who have made it
Credit: Knight Frank
A Victorian manor house with 36 acres on the edge of the Chilterns comes to the market for the first time in its history
Surrounded by 450 year old woodland, this 10-bedroom property also offers 20 stables, a three-bedroom annexe and village living in
A gorgeous farmhouse clinging to the western edge of Britain, yet it's all set up for working from home
Penny Churchill takes a look at Messack Farmhouse, a wonderful home for sale on the Roseland Peninsula.
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expectThe four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
-
Sign of the times: In the age of the selfie, what’s happening to the humble autograph?When Ringo Starr announced that he was no longer going to sign anything, he kickstarted a celebrity movement that coincided with the advent of the camera phone and selfie. Rob Crossan asks whether, in today’s world, the selfie holds more clout than an autograph?
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealedNew research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of EnglandCome for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River TayCarnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country LifeWe take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producersStormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in KentNorth Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streetsThis six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
