A Grade II listed church in Dorset is providing buyers with an opportunity to create a stunning Grand Designs on the south coast.
The property is being sold at an online auction with a guide price of £475,000, the equivalent of the price of a one-bedroom flat in some parts of London.
However, properties often sell for more at auction, particularly if a bidding war emerges between buyers.
And whoever does end up buying the property will need deep pockets as there is still plenty of renovation work to be carried out to transform it into a spectacular family home.
This unusual property is in the Dorset village of Kingston, two miles south of the popular tourist destination Corfe Castle
The property is called The Old Church of St James and could be transformed into a stunning large family home
The property is in Kingston, a village two miles south of the popular tourist destination Corfe Castle, which is best known for a ruined castle. And it is a 10 minute drive to the sandy beaches of National Trust’s Studland Bay.
The building is called The Old Church of St James and it offers a buyer an ‘extraordinary renovation potential’, according to DOMVS, the agent handling the sale of the property.
It claims that the auctioneer’s estimate for the value of the property once the property renovations are complete could be ‘in excess of £1million’.
The property has spacious living areas but requires some renovation work to be carried out for it be made comfortable
The property is being sold at an online auction with a guide price of £475,000, but is likely to be sold for more
The unique church was built in 1833 and today extends across an impressive space of almost 2,800 square feet
Some decorative stone arched windows can be found in some of the appealing living spaces of the countryside property
The church was built in 1833 – as marked by a stone at the property – and spreads across an impressive area of almost 2,800 square feet.
There are currently four bedrooms and two bathrooms, with the property sitting in almost half an acre of land.
There is a fully-fitted kitchen and a dining hall, along with two sets of timber stairs at either side of the property.
There is also a tower at the property – although this is currently only accessible by a ladder but could be converted subject to any planning permission required.
The grounds have views of Corfe Castle and Poole Harbour, as well as across to the Isle of Wight.
There is a closed off area with stone steps down to the original vault of the Lords of Eldon – although this is not included in the sale and is protected.
The property boasts its own tower – although this is currently only accessible by a ladder but could be converted
Room with a view: The property boasts far-reaching views of the stunning Dorset countryside from its windows
There is a fully-fitted kitchen with modern appliances and grey cabinets set against traditional stone tile flooring
There are currently four bedrooms and two bathrooms, with the property sitting in almost half an acre of land
The Old Church is on the edge of the village of Kingston, about five miles west of Swanage.
Kingston is on a hill near Swyre Head, the highest point of the Purbeck Hills, with far-reaching views of the Purbeck countryside.
The average price of a property sold in Corfe Castle in the past year is £567,086, according to property website Zoopla. It compares to an average of £320,239 for the country as a whole.
The Old Church is being sold by Network Auctions in their online auction on September 22.
Richard Worrall, of Network Auctions’ auctioneer, said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity to make the property into a unique family home of character and style in this truly stunning location.
‘The elevated position means there are superb views of Corfe Castle, Poole Harbour and the surrounding countryside from both the grounds and within the property.’
