HOUSE-HUNTERS have been offered the chance to quite literally purchase a piece of history in a more than 160-year-old Abbey on offer for a cool £2.95m.
Dating back to around 1856, St Clare’s Abbey in Darlington, County Durham offers sprawling grounds that include a private tennis court, gym, spa and cocktail bar.
The astonishing 10-bedroom property retains its original Gothic architectural exterior across over 18,000 sq ft of grounds, with stained glass windows and high-peaked roofs.
Despite the aged exterior though, the Grade II listed building has been refurbished into a luxurious home inside, with a maze of rooms spanning four floors.
Securely located within a private-gated community, the historic grounds were originally planned to become a sixty-bed nursing home by Darlington Borough Council.
Instead, an unnamed couple were granted permission to convert the building into a home.
The central primary home is spacious and offers good quality light throughout the property, fitted with modern fixtures and detailings.
House browsers would be forgiven for losing themselves in the labyrinth of rooms, which include bedrooms dotted everywhere, a gym, a bar, a games room, changing rooms and an organ room.
Walk-in wardrobes feature in several of the bedrooms, as well as dedicated en-suites and entire dressing rooms.
The sheer scale of the building has left several rooms feeling rather empty though, with some of the larger bedrooms seeming particularly tricky to decorate.
Even king-size beds are dwarfed by the high ceilings and sprawling floorspace, and the white paintwork featured throughout the home do not add to the slightly sterile feeling.
Despite the immense size of the property and the luxury amenities featured throughout though, the abbey is currently cheaper than a two-bed two-bath apartment in London.
A luxury two-bedroom apartment in Kingston House South in Knightsbridge, central London is currently on sale for an eye-watering £4m.
Listing agents Knights Frank describe the abbey as: “St Clare’s Court is a piece of Darlington’s history.
“This stunning Grade II listed former Abbey was built around 1856 by Joseph and Charles Hansom in their well known Victorian Gothic revival style.
“One of the most inspiring features of this property is the chapel which still houses the original architecture.
“This incredible property has been renovated to an excellent standard, with the main buildings set in stunning grounds extending to around five acres.
“This property presents a unique opportunity to own a superb piece of history.
“St Clare’s Court is a comprehensively refurbished property that is rarely available and offers light and airy accommodation.
“This prestigious property has been fitted with high-quality fixtures and fittings throughout luxurious bathrooms, a bespoke kitchen, and a spa with a jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and heated beds.
“Retaining many period features, including high ceilings, stone mullion windows, original stone flagged floors, polished floorboards, and over 19,000 sq ft of flexible living accommodation.”
