Wreck of the Week

These two are on the pricier side compared to my usual picks, but both are big village properties with a twist, hence my showing them to you. First, a former school plus annex in the Cumbrian village of Casterton , just outside Kirkby Lonsdale.  The Old School has that 'stopped in time' feel to it that I love. It also has a lovely location - posh village near enough to M6 for commuting and to national parks for wandering, and sits in good-size grounds, next to the village church and a stream. That location, plus the size of the space - two buildings and grounds - and the planning consent to switch from school to four-bed home, all contributed to the £350k price tag. But it's very pretty. On the market through Dacre Son & Hartley. More details and pictures  here and here . My second pick is this Grade II listed farmhouse. As with The Old School, it's detached, stone-built, and comes with a fair bit of land. In the case of The Croft...

Couple of handsome Welsh seaside-ish properties for you today, neither are exactly wrecks but both may need rather more than a painting party. This Welsh farmhouse with land and outbuildings is up for auction in July with a guide price of £180k-£190k. Four bedrooms, some original features and a fair few later additions that you'll want to replace (that conservatory, for instance). But lots of space and potential. It's just outside the Ceredigion coastal village of Llangrannog , about 10 miles from Aberaeron and the same again from Cardigan. Downstairs are reception, wet room, lounge, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/diner, conservatory and storeroom. Three bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor, and a further bedroom on the second floor. Outside is stunning - one-and-a-half acres of paddock and gardens, plus hardstanding for cars and several stone or block-built outbuildings and stables. Definitely has 'Good Life' potential! ...

Unless you've got £350k stuffed under the mattress or squirrelled away offshore, this Midlands manor house is definitely day-dream material only, because it's a cash sale. The property was sent to me by regular reader Kit, although the Mirror picked it up too, for reasons that will be come clear. It does need a fair bit of work, although a canny deal with a local developer means there is up to £400k of renovation money due in - more on that later too. Whatever, £350k is a damned good price for such a damned handsome house. Wordsley Manor, in the Black Country village of Wordsley , just outside Stourbridge, is Grade II* Listed and was built around 1757 by the Holt family. It's been owned and lived in by just two more families since the 1850s and is dripping in history. And in historical loveliness. Here's some pictures. The house is four storeys, cellars at the bottom, a ground floor of grand rooms (mostly OK, though windows need work and th...

Wee houses by the sea today. Because the sun is shining and I'm having a good week. The house above and below is at Poppit, alongside Cardigan Bay and within the Pembrokeshire National Park. Being serial greyhound owners, me and hubby have spent a fair few years wandering Poppit Sands with our various retired racers. It is gorgeous. So a house that overlooks one of our favourite spaces was always going to get on my radar. And this Grade II-listed detached little house is just lovely. Rocket House (I kid you not) has one bedroom, bathroom, kitchen/diner, sitting room and hall. Lots of parking and a good-size garden area - with those amazing views. It's up for auction on July 5th, with a guide price of £100k - £120k, via John Francis. More here and here . This shop by the water (below) at gorgeous  Sanday, Orkney , has masses of potential to become a business/home, or studio/home, or just a home with a quite amazing view. No inside photo...