Buyers looking for something a little different could do well to look at The Round House, in Ilfracombe, Devon, which is for sale with Stags at £1.25 million.
As the name implies, this is a circular building, thought to be the result of a dare in which a local builder was challenged to create a round house (although it also comes with a cottage of mostly standard shape for the lovers of all things square).
Built in about 1910 in Italianate style, it has many unusual features both outside and throughout its 3,108sq ft interiors, including two turrets flanking the entrance, ornate fireplaces in the main reception rooms and delightful bow windows taking in the splendid views of the sea and the local countryside.
The Round House itself has the main reception rooms, plus kitchen and breakfast room on the ground floor, five bedrooms and a sitting room on the first floor and, on the second floor, a rotunda room opening onto a circular roof terrace that’s the best place to soak up the panorama.
The 1,208sq ft Cottage spans two floors, with kitchen and dining room, a sun and family room and one bedroom downstairs and a sitting room and two bedrooms upstairs—one of which is in an octagonal turret, in keeping with the quirky atmosphere of the Round House.
Until now, The Round House has been operated as a holiday let, with the owners living in the Cottage, but the two could be both used as accommodation.
Outside, the landscaped gardens have been cleverly designed not only to enjoy the panorama, but also to support local wildlife.
The Round House is for sale at £1.25 million via Stags — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Ilfracombe: What you need to know
- Location: Ilfracombe is about 12 miles away from Barnstaple
- Atmosphere: A charming seaside town, Ilfracombe is full of postcard-pretty, pastel-coloured houses clustered around the harbour at the foot of the 14th-century chapel on Lantern Hill. Beaches, lots of independent shops and art galleries complete the picture.
- Things to do: Plenty of options are at hand, from walking along the South-west Coastal path to playing golf at the Ilfracombe and Saunton golf clubs, surfing (also at Saunton, or at Woolacombe) or simply relaxing on the beach. You could even take a wildlife-watching cruise to Lundy Island.
- Schools: The Ilfracombe Church of England primary school is rated good by Ofsted.
Find more properties in the area.
-
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.
