Engine House & Acres

We researched this particular building back to the recent past around July 2013 when it was priced at £895,000. So there is now quite a decent wedge machined off of the original price down to the current £799,950. Former Engine Houses like this are very popular. Perhaps they appeal to the inland version of the coastal lighthouse househunter. Also, just check out the top floor balcony on this amazing building – as shown in the photograph above.

Agency Description: An extraordinary 3,400sq.ft. 5 bedroom house offering grand living spaces, situated in the middle of about 9 acres of gardens, grounds and paddocks with a huge modern barn and equestrian facilities.

A dramatic and unique home in a private and blissful setting with countryside views, near to the facilities of Lostwithiel and St Austell, as well as sandy beaches and the upmarket sailing town of Fowey.

Ground Floor: reception hall, wc, dining hall, bespoke kitchen breakfast room, living room.

Lower Ground Floor: hall, utility room, double bedroom en-suite.

First to Third Floors: 4 bedroom suites, two of which are particularly spectacular.

Outside: tarmac driveways and parking area, extensive lawned gardens with small lake, terraces and sheltered woodland garden. Fruit orchard, two paddocks, sand school, modern stable yard, 65’ x 32’ modern timber barn, large discreet area of hardstanding.

In all, about 9 acres.

Location: The Old Engine House, Treesmill, Nr. Fowey, Cornwall, PL24 2TX.

Tenure: Freehold.

Guide: £799,950

Contact Lillicrap Chilcott Agencies Tel: 01872 273473. Please can readers help the Unique Property Bulletin stay free to use by letting the estate agent/owner know that you found their property on the Unique Property Bulletin website. Thankyou.

Online Brochure & More Photographs ….

http://www.lillicrapchilcott.com/public/PropertyDetail.aspx?id=4675

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Tunnels For Sale

We do come across these very rare items every now and then. The transformations can be truly amazing. Just look what some folk have made out of what are the most basic form of human subterranean shelter …

Montage Of Underground Vernacular

For this listing we cannot take any credit. This fascinating find is all down to one of our intrepid readers. A big thankyou. The lady knows who she is – pat on the back for that fellow eccentric.

As the Don’t Get Annoyed piece below describes, this week we have needed a little help in putting together the Bulletin. More of that later. For now, back to this underground tunnel that is for sale – or rather coming up for auction.

Variously described as “Underground Tunnel”; “Underground Chambers” or “Guardhouse”, for anyone with that spark of vision for an unusual property to live in, this has tons of potential. Plus tons on the roof of this tunnel triumvirate.

Agency Summary:-

Tunnel One – dimensions given in good faith, but are approximate …

18.0m (59’2″) x 2.6m (8’8″)
With power and lighting. Access through to…

Additional Storage Area

4.7m (15’3″) x 3.3m (10’8″) plus additional recess.

Open Access Through To Tunnel Two

18.0m (59’2″) x 2.3m (7’7″)

Tunnel Three

17.7m (57’11”) x 2.7m (9′)

Agency Description:-

“This property is for sale by the modern method of auction, also known as CONDITIONAL AUCTION. The process is similar to a normal property purchase but on acceptance of an offer the purchaser will pay a non-refundable reservation fee to secure the property. The buyer then has 28 days to exchange contracts and a further 28 days to complete the purchase. Terms and conditions apply to the modern auction method of sale, which is operated by Bradleys Property Auction”.

Important Notes For Purchasers: This property is offered for sale by Bradleys On Line Auctions. To place a bid go to www.bradleys-auction.co.uk. Please ensure you register and fully read the instructions on how to make a bid on line. It is important to note that if you are the successful bidder you will pay Bradleys Estate Agents a £5,000 or 3.5% fee plus VAT (whichever is greater) on your bidding figure to reserve the property, allowing you a 28 days to exchange contracts. For more information on how Bradleys on Line Auctions work, please contact your local Bradleys Office.

THIS PROPERTY IS BEING SOLD BY CONDITIONAL ON-LINE AUCTION* Place a bid on www.bradleysonlineauction.co.uk by 12pm on 10th December 2013. This is a unique opportunity to purchase a part of history! The ‘Underground Chambers’ at Devonport Hill was the original site of the drawbridge when Plymouth was a fortified town and was also used as an air raid shelter in WW2.

Location: Devonport Hill, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 4LY.

Tenure: Freehold.

Guide: £19,000 – Auction 12 December 2013 – Always remember – The FTSAA – Failed To Sell At Auction principle – in case you see this listing after the auction. Always worth checking if any given property actually sold on the day, or if it is still for sale.

Contact Bradleys Auctioneers Tel: 01395 22 3336. Please can readers help the Unique Property Bulletin stay free to use by letting the estate agent/owner/auctioneer know that you found their property on the Unique Property Bulletin website. Thankyou.

Online Brochure ….

http://www.bradleysonlineauction.co.uk/properties/31c831a2c38248058e16a6421a86dcf0.html

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Unique Property Competition

For this month, we have a curious prize. It is an old pound note. Back in the day when this was real pocket money, not a little brass type coin! It may not be of the same value that last month’s competition was, but here is our ‘just for fun’ prize for November 2013 …

Memories ! = The November Prize = Just for Fun

It may well be a stretch to say this is lucky pound note. But if you are like us and believe in luck – don’t walk unedr ladders/one good turn deserves another sort of thing, then perhaps consider putting this old pound in a small picture frame and pop it onto your desk. We were given a similar vintage ten shilling note by a very dear friend many years ago, and it has brought an extraordinary amount of good luck. So who knows – the above may bring you twice as much luck. Two ten bob notes add up to an old pound. Anyways here is the clue…

Competition Hint – Recent Nuclear Postcode ?

Free to enter. Just let us know your guess of who you think the above Competition Hint refers to? Please email your entry to us by 30th November 2013. You may need to check out a previous edition or tother elements of the Unique Property Bulletin to understand the clue a little better.

Email free entries to:-

Unique Property Bulletin Competition Entry Contact Page

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Observatory – Star Property

A shame that part of this historic site has been demolished, but there is still a lot of interesting structure with history, and the all important planning permission to play with. Though there has been some controversy surrounding the former observatory …

http://www.bidstonhill.org.uk/bidston-observatory-call-to-arms/

This is something to consider, if, for you, this building has that star quality (sorry).

There are some rather splendid old photographs of this marvellous building in it’s heyday…

http://www.bidstonlighthouse.org.uk/bidston-observatory-heritage-for-sale/

Agency Summary:

Grade ll Listed.

Former Observatory.

Development Opportunity.

Planning Permission – For Conversion To 4 Flats.

Agency Description:-

Invitation for Best and Final Offers by the 30/11/13 please for the former Bidston Observatory with planning permission for conversion to four apartments: comprising a substantial building with associated land located on the ridge of Bidston Hill and Park Wood, central to Wirral, 5 miles from Liverpool and close access to the M53 Motorway and with train services from Bidston Village.

The site identified on the plan (in red) is a Grade ll Listed former observatory with grounds to the east boundary adjacent to which is a large surfaced car park with development potential.

The property was built in 1866, is a freehold dwelling and comprises some 14,500 sq ft (1347.1 sq m) with sub-basement, basement, ground and one upper floor.

Planning Permission: On the 05/07/12 Wirral Borough Council granted permission for the change of use to form four residential apartments; internal alterations and refurbishment and external repairs; landscaping and construction of bicycle and bin store. The approval excludes the car parking area, which, subject to planning, offers an opportunity for additional residential development.
Application APP/12/00536. Copy of the Planning Permission is available.

In addition, a second freehold site known as the former Braehead Cottage which lies further east of the car park comprising approx. 0.17 acres is also available. The consideration for the site should include a consideration and proposal for an overage payment subject to planning approval.

Location: Bidston Observatory, Prenton, Merseyside, CH43 7PB.

Tenure: Freehold.

Guide: £POA – “Best and Final Offers by the 30 November 2013” – Unique Property Bulletin readers please note: Always remember – FTSAA – Failed To Sell At Auction principle – in case you see this listing after the auction. Always worth checking if any given property actually sold on the day.

Contact Brennan Ayre O’Neill Agencies Tel: 0151 608 8586. Please can readers help the Unique Property Bulletin stay free to use by letting the estate agent/owner know that you found their property on the Unique Property Bulletin website. Thankyou.

Online Brochure ….

http://www.vebra.com/property/1696/24582318

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Millhouse Church House

Kilbride Church, Millhouse, Tighnabruaich (c) Future Property

Here is a beautifully located detached building of sterling service coming up for auction, and with a very reasonable price guide.

Auctioneer Description:-

Traditional former church building. Located to the south of the village of Millhouse on the Ardlamont Peninsula.

Accommodation Comprises; Entrance Vestibule, Main Naive and 2 Additional Rooms.

Gross Internal Floor Area Extends to 1,471 sq.ft (136.74 sq.m) approx.

Potential for conversion to a unique residential home. Subject to necessary consents.

Location: Kilbride Church, Millhouse, Tighnabruaich, Argyll and Bute, PA21 2AH.

Tenure: Feuhold [Scottish Freehold Equivalent].

Guide: £48,000 – Lot 50. Auction scheduled 3rd December 2013. Remember FTSAA – Failed To Sell At Auction principle.

Contact Future Property Auctions Tel: 0141 632 6599. Please can readers help Unique Property Bulletin stay free to use by letting the estate agent/owner/auctioneer know that you found their property on the Unique Property Bulletin website. Thankyou.

Online Brochure ….

http://www.futurepropertyauctions.co.uk/property_details.asp?id=84167

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Don’t Get Annoyed

This little piece of editorial is a touch tangential to what normally appears in Unique Property Bulletin. But this is kind of the point – the unusual appearing on this website.

The Bulletin was nearly put offline several months ago following a move in it’s home. The Broadband provider at that time was Tesco. Our internet account was with Tesco for over 12 years. Yet this vast organisation made an utter excrementum of what should have been a simple internet service house move.

Long story short – instead of getting angry – with a little lateral thinking we ended up asking Tesco to settle a bill for the costs. When presented with a forensic account, and to much surprise, they did just that …

　Tesco Problem: A Result – Do Bulletin Readers Have Similar Experiences?

Then to add to further stress with the move – including this website changing home – BT decided to go off the lines. Not just overcharging on the phone bill, but charging extra FOR the phone bill ! At £9 a time per MONTHLY invoice = £108 a year rip-off. Worse, BT charge an additional £6 per invoicel to say WHAT the bill is for. We know of no other organisation that charge for billing customers, and add further charges to say what the customers are being billed for. BT ended out owing this particular endeavour a refund of excess money taken by BT.

Déjà vu : Long story short – instead of getting angry – with a little lateral thinking we ended up asking BT to settle a bill for the costs. When presented with a forensic account, and to much surprise, they did just that …

BT Problem: A Result – Do Bulletin Readers Have Similar Experiences?

So why have we included this small piece within this week’s Bulletin? Partly by way of an apology. Thanks to another problematic organisation – this week – and this time the DVLA – we have lost two days and the Bulletin has suffered. Maybe not too much in content – thanks to some VERY kind readers emailing some of their unique property finds. But we are keenly wanting to improve the site with the Extra Extra section, Unique Property Auctions and other additional elements to the Bulletin. Losing days to malfunctioning organisations such as the DVLA can be very frustrating, and harmful.

The second reason is a small, but growing pile of very interesting cheques that have resulted from what might be termed the “Don’t Get Annoyed – A Cheque Will Do Nicely” approach!

From this pile of inbound cheques, one of our number has suggested starting a dedicated Don’t Get Annoyed website to share the experiences of how to nudge large, allegedly malfunctioning entities such as Tesco, BT, the DVLA etc., into treating customers in a better and fairer manner.

So if the idea of a new, albeit quite different website to SHARE this way of encouraging remuneration for bad service and bad practice appeals, perhaps readers could drop us a note to say whether the idea is any good, or if it is a non-runner?

You never know, the next time you find yourself “on hold” or losing hours of your life navigating the infuriating “press 1 for this; press 2 for that and three to get stuffed” call answering systems, instead of getting annoyed, you may end up with a nice cheque. Is that an initiative that you would find helpful? Your view may well assist giving birth to a whole new website for long suffering customers who endure problematic companies. What nicer way of a resolution than a cheque popping through your letterbox, rather than another bill. They can put their bills where the pelican does.

We really would appreciate your thoughts on the above Don’t Get Annoyed new website idea …

Please Click Here To Comment On: Don’t Get Annoyed Website Idea

Thankyou

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Train Set Additions

Following a previous Unique Property Bulletin entry with almost a complete, large, and full size railway station set, we have another piece for any collectors who are keen on these fine buildings. This is a detached 4 bedroom former Station Master’s House.

This one is beautifully presented with fine interior rooms…

It also has it’s own Wikipedia page…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golspie_railway_station

Agency Description:-

Accommodation: entrance hall, wc, lounge/diner, kitchen/breakfast room, 4 bedrooms (1 en-suite and 1 adjoining en-suite dressing room) and family bathroom. Oil fired central heating. Gardens and 3 external stores. Also included are three external stores.

Designed by William Fowler and built in 1868, Golspie Station House which sits on the unmanned platform was converted in 2002/2003 to a four bedroom family home by its current owners. The B-listed property has been sympathetically renovated whilst keeping many of its original features including sash and case windows, some fireplaces, interior doors, banister and some wooden flooring. The external impressive building has many pleasing features including a veranda supported by a timber arcade, three doors providing access (two to the entrance hall and one to a bedroom on the ground floor), and a placard monogrammed “SR” to signify the Duke of Sutherland’s railway and a date.

Internally the accommodation includes an entrance hall, lounge/diner with a feature open fireplace, a downstairs wc, a kitchen/breakfast room with original fireplace, four bedrooms (two of which having en-suite facilities and the master bedroom also having an original fireplace) and the accommodation is completed by the family bathroom. This property boasts oil fired central heating with the ground floor having underfloor heating and the first floor having radiators. From the front of the property there are three doors which give access to storage cupboards which is ideally suited for garden tools and storage. Station house holds potential for being run as a small B&B.

Don’t worry too much about the trains passing with noise. It is a question that should be asked and answered.

For our tuppence worth, having studied the Golspie Station train timetable, there are enough trains to make commuting and travelling to the big city accessible, whilst the remoteness of this station house means the frequency of trains are not overbearing. They are relatively infrequent. If this is an issue that concerns you, then we suggest visiting the property for a few hours and test-drive the issue. The Bulletin resides nearby and our own experience is that train noise is not a problem that should be too much of a wiorry. Though this is a subjective issue and prospective buyers should ensure that any passing train noise is within their own comfort zone.

Agency Description Continued: Station House has a garden to the side elevation which is laid to grass. Also included in the property is a flower-bed which is situated on the platform.

The village of Golspie is a traditional coastal village, with an award winning beach, on the shores of the Dornoch Firth in the shadow of Benn a’ Bhragaidh (394m). Golspie has a good range of local shops, services and amenities including a newly refurbished swimming pool complex with fitness suite, a renowned links golf course and good primary and secondary schools. Loch and sea angling is available nearby, there is sailing in the bay and the Wildcat mountain bike trails are said to be the best in Scotland.

There are restaurants in the nearby villages of Brora and Dornoch. The national nature reserve of Loch Fleet is 4 miles to the south and just north of the village is its most famous landmark – Dunrobin Castle the family seat of the Earls of Sutherland. This fairytale castle dates from the 13th century and has been extensively remodelled by Sir Charles Barry the designer of the House of Commons.

Location: Station Master’s House, Station Road, Golspie, Sutherland, KW10 6SR.

Tenure: Feuhold [Scottish Freehold Equivalent].

Guide: £199,000 – Advised this is after a recent price reduction.

Contact Munro & Noble Tel: 01463 225533. Please can readers help Unique Property Bulletin stay free to use by letting the estate agent/owner know that you found their property on the Unique Property Bulletin website. Thankyou.

Online Brochure ….

http://property.munronoble.com/property.asp?id=61

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Pembrey Pump House

Pembrey Pump House, Carmarthenshire (c) 2103 West Wales Properties

This magnificently utilitarian structure is one of our favourite styles. It already has a two bedroom living accommodation plus a place you can earn a living at within the building, and a nice chunk of land into the bargain as well. Sort of Fred Dibnah meets Felicity Kendal and Richard Briers in The Good Life.

Comfortable Interior (c) 2103 West Wales Properties

Alternatively, Outline Planning Permission has been granted to convert the Old Pump House into a Guest House with 6 En Suite Letting Rooms.

General Description:

Substantial re-development property.

Planning Permission for conversion to Guest House.

2 Bedroom Owners Living Accommodation.

Provision for 6 En Suite Letting Rooms.

Scope for Caravan / Camp Site – subject to consents.

Set in 4.5 Acres of Land.

Pembrey Pump House – Kitchen (c) 2103 West Wales Properties

The former Llanelli Corporation Water Works (Pembrey Pumping Station) was utilised for the pumping of clean water to ‘Swiss Valley’ and for water storage purposes up until 2001. It now has the benefit of Planning Permission for the ‘conversion of the Pump House into Guest House//Hostel//Holiday accommodation and living accommodation….’

The property affords excellent scope and potential in connection with the Leisure/Tourist Industry and/or as a B&B/Hostel, Restaurant, Caravan Club/Camp site, Re-development with log cabins for holiday purposes, Equestrian etc – subject to the necessary consents being obtained where applicable.

Pembrey Pump House – Raised Sun Room (c) 2103 West Wales Properties

The Old Pembrey Pump House is situated close to the entrance to Pembrey Country Park and Cefn Sidan Sands having been originally built Circa 1937/39 and is located approximately 1 mile of the A484 Carmarthen to Llanelli Road and village of Pembrey some 4 miles of the Administrative town of Llanelli. The property enjoying ease of access to the Motor Sports Centre, Kidwelly, Ffos Las Racecourse and is situated some 12 miles south of the County and Market town of Carmarthen.

Pembrey Pump House – Large Workplace (c) 2103 West Wales Properties

Check Out The Fabulous Overhead Gantry

Location: Pembrey Pump Station, Factory Road, Pembrey, Burry Port, Carmarthenshire, SA16 0DZ.

Tenure: Freehold.

Guide: £485,000

Contact West Wales Properties Tel: 01554 759655. Please can readers help the Unique Property Bulletin stay free to use by letting the estate agent/owner know that you found their property on the Unique Property Bulletin website. Thankyou.

Online Brochure & Many Photographs ….

http://www.vebra.com/property/3799/24470815

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Architecturally Unique…

One Of These Please

We just love this unique architecture. If Christmas is to come early, may we have one of these please? Just take a close look at what this elegant wall in the hillside actually contains.

This particular structure is listed especially for readers seeking a subterranean lifestyle, but with a decent access to daylight. An awesome range of Villa Vals pictures and illustrations can be found via…

Villa Vals Architecture – Photographic Montage

This is one of the most elegant entrances for such a place to live that we have come across in 25 years of doing this. It matters not that the example, and the architects are in Switzerland. The idea is the thing. The imagination of the client combined with the know-how of the architect can transcend international borders.

So if you fancy something like this, but on a piece of ground you own at your local location, there are three things to do. First, check out this week’s Try-Before-You-By, then chat with the folk who inspired this design [owners and an array of design support team]; then contact the architects.

Who knows, you too may have an elegant architecturally designed semi-soil-submersible abode such as this.

Contact Christian Müller Architects

Delftseplein 36
3013 AA Rotterdam
The Netherlands

Tel: [31] [0] 10 213 6763

Schwemmiweg 7
CH 8880 Walenstadt
Switzerland

Tel: [41] [0] 76 648 24 94

http://www.christian-muller.com/CMA.Contact.html

Online Brochure ….

http://www.christian-muller.com/CMA.Projects.VVW.html

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Try Before You Buy ….

The Villa Vals Experience　

Such is the nature of this week’s stunning unique architectural design, we would heartily recommend that readers consider treating themselves to a try-before-you-buy experience.

Luckily it is possible to stay at this amazing place. To learn more, it is a good idea to visit the Villa Vals website …

http://www.villavals.ch/

To consider an educational vacation at this aesthetic marvel of architect and client design, just click here …

http://www.villavals.ch/yourstay.php?lang=en

Vacation At Villa Vals Cost: 2 nights from 2 nights € 950,00 …

http://www.villavals.ch/booking.php?lang=en

Travel: The closest airport is Zurich …

http://www.villavals.ch/travel.php?lang=en

To Contact Villa Vals …

http://www.villavals.ch/contact.php?lang=en