A Grade II-listed tower in Boughton, Northamptonshire, is going up for auction with a guide price of £225,000 to £250,000.
The converted eighteenth century Hawking Tower was built as a folly by the Second Earl of Strafford and Wentworth.
The property overlooks Boughton Park in Northamptonshire, which is a stone’s throw from the Boughton House stately home where William III once stayed.
Its construction was mentioned in a letter to Whig politician and author, Horace Walpole, in 1756.
Hawking Tower is in need of renovation and is being offered with vacant possession, having been let until February 2024.
The property, which is being sold at auction via Auction House on 30 April, has a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, a shower ensuite and a further bathroom.
Buy me: Hawking Tower is going up for auction via Auction House on 30 April
Hawking Tower, which stands in lawned gardens, also comes with a detached single garage and an off-road parking space.
The property is approached by a flight of stone steps with a pathway leading to the side of the tower and giving access to the kitchen door.
With its studded arch doorways and exposed oak beams, a spiral staircase and original windows, Hawking Tower could prove the perfect pad for a history buff.
Auction House said: ‘The property is constructed primarily of coarsed ironstone with Ashlar dressings and is arranged over three floors with a castellated roof with conical corner finials surmounted by a wrought iron weather vane.
‘There are numerous gothic arched mullioned leaded light windows together with unusual four leaf clover shaped windows to the second floor elevations.’
The property’s garden backs onto the park, which can be accessed by stone steps, and there is fencing marking the boundary and offering buyers more privacy.
Get imaginative: Hawking Tower is going up for auction with a guide price from £225,000
Previous use: The two-bedroom property was let up until February 2024
Project: Hawking Tower is in need of renovation and is being offered with vacant possession
Features: Hawking Tower has unique four leaf clover shaped windows
History: Hawking Tower was built as a folly by the Second Earl of Strafford and Wentworth
It’s listed: Prospective buyers should note that Hawking Tower is Grade II-listed
Your ideal home? Hawking Tower could prove the perfect pad for a history buff
Construction: The property is constructed primarily of coarsed ironstone
Options: The buyer of Hawking Tower will be able to put their own stamp on it
Plenty of space: Hawking Tower also comes with a single garage and off-road parking space
Credentials: Hawking Tower was mentioned in a letter to Whig politician and author, Horace Walpole, in 1756
What a view: The property overlooks Boughton Park in Northamptonshire
Buying a Grade II-listed property – what to know
A listed house or listed building is a property placed on a national register of buildings with historical or architectural importance.
The list is aimed at protecting these buildings and maintaining them for future generations.
Generally, a Grade I-listed property will have more restrictions than one that is Grade II-listed. Many listed properties are steeped in history and packed with quirks and character.
However, listed properties are protected by law, meaning buyers will require listed-building consent in addition to planning consent to make any changes, whether to the interior or exterior.
Anyone buying a listed property needs to be aware of the potential challenges and additional costs involved.
Features deemed significant in the National Heritage List will not be able to be altered.
The local council’s conservation officer will be able to inform you about the changes that can and cannot be made to the property.
Maintenance costs for listed properties can be high, particularly if specialist trades are required.
If buying a listed property, it is also essential to read any home insurance policies properly and ensure it covers the full cost of repairing the property.
