Thursday 5 November 2020

And it's goodbye from me...


So, here we are - day one of lockdown two. It sort of feels appropriate that, by happenstance, this is also the day I'm writing what may be my last post for Wreck of the Week.

You'll have noticed there's been a gap since the last one. Indeed some of you have already emailed to check in on me (thank you, that was lovely of you) and others have wondered whether this site you'd only just discovered was still operating. It had been, for ten years and with almost six million page views and thousands of regular readers - many of who have sent me the most amazing property finds of their own.

But this year has just been a bit too much - for me and so many of us. I was finding it harder and harder to carve out the time and generate the energy to update 'Wreck'. Like others, "lockdown" for me has meant more work; it's been pretty full-on since February and won't ease off this year. And in my close family, a divorce, two diagnosis of terminal cancer, and multiple house moves, have sliced up the year. So 'Wreck' is being sidelined. I hope not forever, but this isn't the time for  promises.

But it is the time for dreaming. And I'm going to sign off with a big bunch of properties, all of which have that something special that has defined my Wreck picks for so many years.

First, this "money pit" (as reader Kath described it) between Creetown and Carsluith, towards the west coast of Scotland. Grade B-listed and on Scotland's Property at Risk register, The Glebe is not a property for do-uppers - you'll need more than matching hard hat and wellies to tackle this one.



But boy is it handsome. At least on the outside...


It comes with just under five acres of land, mostly forest, backing towards a rather lovely quarry - with the quarry itself and more land also available for sale separately (that could become an issue depending on who buys it...), and its own private access track. Yummy.


On the market through Galloway and Ayrshire Properties at offers around £165k. Details here and pdf here.

And this one, also in Scotland, I'm late to the table on (despite having had a tip-off from another Kath three weeks ago). The Linn (above) in Helensburgh is a seven-bedroom, B-Listed villa with three acres of fabulous botanic gardens, plunge pool, separate holiday cottage and other buildings, at offers over £295k, via Savills. 



It's already under offer (hopefully by the community, or someone as committed to the gardens as Dr Jim had been) but is so gorgeous I'm posting it in any case. So we can all look at the pictures and daydream "what ifs...". Pictures here and here. Oh, and here's Dr Jim - another gentle soul lost.


And just to finish off this round-up of properties sent to me by readers. Here are a couple of lovely (but pricier) Southern beauties.
This Grade II-listed three-bedroom detached country house in Buckinghamshire with a quarter of an acre was sent to me by Fiona.



No inside pictures (and you know how I feel about that) and clearly masses of work needed, but a lovely feel to the place. On the market through Michael Graham at £275k. Details here.

And this five-bedroom and also Grade II-listed house, near Woolacombe, came via Louise. On the market through agents Stags at £450k and more tired than a wreck, but those "original" features may prove a challenge.




Details and more pictures here.

I'm going to leave you with one final property - and a tip. This is Lionel Mission Hall, on the bracing Isle of Lewis.


Pretty, isn't it? Like most Scottish (and Welsh) Mission Halls, it's one big room and a vestibule. In a quiet location, surrounded by countryside (and a small garden), the Hall has lovely, wide-open views. Best of all, it's cheap at offers (by November 11th) around £35k. Details and more pictures here.

Lionel Mission Hall is just one property on the Scottish Churches register of properties for sale. It's one of my favourite go-to lists. The Church of England had a similar one but an update to their website seems to have killed all the links. And Welsh churches and chapels tend to go direct to estate agents, with a corresponding mark-up. But you will find some on this page.  

However, in Scotland you get to deal direct. Which means that, had we both been a faster off the mark, we could have put in an offer of around £20k for this stunning waterfront Shetland church (albeit without any land).


Anyway, here's the page you'll want to keep a eye on while I'm away.

Stay safe, stay hopeful.

Sue : )