Britain’s smallest castle has gone on sale for £330,000, offering a quirky home built into a trendy town’s historic walls.
The Gazebo Tower sits in pride of place on the high street in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, looking out over the river and the surrounding countryside.
The Grade II-listed turret, which is in the Gothic Revival style, dates back to the 19th century, built as a viewing tower along with the walls in 1833.
The unusual three-storey circular building, which has been described as a ‘local icon’, could make for a perfect holiday home or Airbnb rental.
Sometimes, though, good things come in small packages – and this property is definitely on the pokey side, at just 645sq ft (59sq m).
Each of the rooms in the decorative folly measures only around 16ft (5m) across.
But the compact home still boasts a kitchen, living room, bedroom, en-suite wet room and rooftop terrace.
The tower was last put on the market in 2023, when it was listed for £425,000.
The Gazebo Tower (pictured) sits in pride of place on the high street in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, looking out over the river and the surrounding countryside
The Grade II-listed turret (pictured, its roof terrace), which is in the Gothic Revival style, dates back to the 19th century, built as a viewing tower along with the walls in 1833
And its design has had to incorporate some unique storage solutions to fit everything in – including a bath installed underneath the double bed.
Agents Hamilton Stiller said: ‘An opportunity to own a landmark and one of Ross-on-Wye’s most striking features.
‘This Grade II Listed historic folly tower offers 360-degree views across the famous horseshoe bend of the River Wye, the Black Mountains of southeast Wales, the iconic spire of Saint Mary’s Church, Chase Wood and Ross-on-Wye’s colourful architecture.’
The property has a bright, airy feel with whitewashed walls, characterful mullion windows in wooden frames and a modern, up-to-date finish.
In the kitchen, stainless steel fixtures are complemented by sleek white cupboards, black tiling and a quirky blue counter top.
And prospective buyers need only head up the property’s carpeted spiral staircase and out its battery-operated roof hatch to appreciate its stunning aspect.
From there, they can take in the breathtaking panoramic view of Ross-on-Wye and the surrounding landscape over the tower’s turrets.
Athletes from Ross Rowing Club can also frequently be seen gliding down the River Wye.
In the kitchen (pictured), stainless steel fixtures are complemented by sleek white cupboards, black tiling and a quirky blue counter top
The property has a bright, airy feel with whitewashed walls, characterful mullion windows in wooden frames and a modern, up-to-date finish
Prospective buyers need only head up the property’s carpeted spiral staircase (pictured) and out its battery-operated roof hatch to appreciate its stunning aspect
It seems, however, the tower’s new owners should look out for birds too, with pigeon spikes installed on many of the terrace’s surfaces.
They need not just look to the high street for entertainment, with the quaint market town of Ledbury only 13 miles away.
Trains to London Paddington, meanwhile, take just around two hours.
The turret used to be owned by Herefordshire Council, which put it up for sale in 2001, at which time it had just one floor and was only accessible by ladder.
It was snapped up by a buyer named Tony Billingham, who spent years turning the property into a livable home with the help of his family.
He also opened the fascinating space up to visitors to explore in return for a donation, with all the money going to local charities.
