Properties of the week: one-of-a-kind houses
Featuring homes in Kent, Somerset and Essex
Kent: Mermaid Cottage, St Margaret’s Bay
This elegant art deco house (first property on the left) enjoys a spectacular setting, by the sea wall at the foot of the White Cliffs. The property boasts sea views, and a garden designed by an RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold- medal winner. Main suite, 2 further beds with jack and jill shower, kitchen, 4 receps, balcony, parking. £1.75 million; Strutt & Parker
Argyll & Bute: An Cnocan Dubh, Coillabus, Isle of Islay
An architect-designed, turf-roofed, stone-clad lodge set in a wonderfully unspoilt location on the Oa peninsula, with views across the sea towards Kintyre. 2 suites, sauna, kitchen, open- plan living/dining room, parking. OIEO £375,000; Savills
Kent: North Pole Road, Barming
An impressive water tower conversion with panoramic views to the North Downs. 5 beds (3 en suite), family bath, open-plan kitchen/ dining room, 2 receps, 2 studies, gym, balcony, garden, hot tub, garage, parking. £1.425 million; Savills
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Denbighshire: Plas Yn Llan, Llangynhafal
This 16th century house sits in an idyllic 1.3- acre, semi-rural setting. Main suite, 3 further beds, family bath, kitchen/breakfast room, 4 receps, parking. £1.15 million; Fisher German
Essex: Redshank, St Osyth
Designed by Lisa Shell Architects to resemble both Maunsell forts and redshanks (a wading bird), this unique home hovers above salty marshland, which floods at high tide. 1 bed, shower, kitchen/living room, balcony. £400,000; The Modern House
Kent: The Tower, Hadlow Castle
A historic Grade I property (the world’s tallest Victorian gothic tower) with breathtaking 360° views. 4 beds (3 en suite), kitchen/breakfast room, 4 receps, roof terrace, lift, garden. £2.78 million; Fine & Country
Somerset: Birdcombe Court, Wraxall
A magnificent Grade II* medieval manor house set in almost two acres. Pevsner records the house as an "astonishing survival", with the hall dating back to the 13th century. 3 suites, 3 further beds, family bath, 2 studies, kitchen, 3 receps, garden, chapel, coach house, stables. £2.85 million; Inigo
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
East Sussex: Tin Tabernacle, Barcombe
Award-winning chapel conversion, featuring an impressive 28ft living room with a vaulted ceiling. 4 beds, family bath, shower, open-plan kitchen/living/dining room, garden, parking. £995,000; Strutt & Parker
-
Is Keir Starmer being hoodwinked by China?Today's Big Question PM’s attempt to separate politics and security from trade and business is ‘naïve’
-
A peek inside Europe’s luxury new sleeper busThe Week Recommends Overnight service with stops across Switzerland and the Netherlands promises a comfortable no-fly adventure
-
Space data centers could be joining the orbitUnder the radar The AI revolution is going cosmic
-
The best homes of the yearFeature Featuring a former helicopter engine repair workshop in Washington, D.C. and high-rise living in San Francisco
-
Critics’ choice: The year’s top 10 moviesFeature ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘It Was Just an Accident’ stand out
-
A luxury walking tour in Western AustraliaThe Week Recommends Walk through an ‘ancient forest’ and listen to the ‘gentle hushing’ of the upper canopy
-
Joanna Trollope: novelist who had a No. 1 bestseller with The Rector’s WifeIn the Spotlight Trollope found fame with intelligent novels about the dramas and dilemmas of modern women
-
Appetites now: 2025 in food trendsFeature From dining alone to matcha mania to milk’s comeback
-
Man vs Baby: Rowan Atkinson stars in an accidental adoption comedyTalking Point Sequel to Man vs Bee is ‘nauseatingly schmaltzy’
-
Goodbye June: Kate Winslet’s directorial debut divides criticsTalking Point Helen Mirren stars as the terminally ill English matriarch in this sentimental festive heartwarmer
-
A Christmas Carol (or two)The Week Recommends These are the most delightful retellings of the Dickens classic from around the country