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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Milica Cosic

Inside 216-year-old circular sea defence tower that's transformed into a quirky home

A 216-year-old circular sea defence tower has gone on the market - and you could be its new owner.

The Grey Tower - a Grade II Listed Martello tower - located in Pevensey, East Sussex is now available for sale for £695,000.

The home, which is in a private gated community, comes with four-bedroom spread over three floors and a central pillar with beautiful vaulted arches.

It also has direct access to the beach, and features stunning views over Pevensey Bay towards Dieppe - but is in some serious need of some TLC.

There is so much potential with the home, and it could be transformed into something magnificent (Strutt&Parker/BNPS)

On the ground floor, the tower features a 26ft reception room and kitchen, with the bedrooms and bathrooms in the extension.

A spectacular circular family room can be found on the first floor, complete with exposed wooden flooring.

The top floor features another bedroom with a fabulous 360-degree views of the coast and countryside.

If the layout hasn't sold you, outside there is a tarmac forecourt, paved terrace and a detached double garage. The home itself is also a 100-yard walk from a sailing club and a golf course.

With potential to reform it into its former glory, it would make a great Grand Designs project. And it would be the ideal weekend bolthole or holiday let once finished.

The four-bed property would make a great Grand Designs project and could be an ideal weekend bolthole or holiday let (StruttandParker/BNPS)

Adrian Passingham from Strutt & Parker, which is selling the property, has described the property as a "unique tower".

It said: "The walls are 6ft thick and they had to use dynamite to blow it out to make a hole for a window. It took 27 blasts and blew out some of the windows in the bay. It's basically a bomb-proof home.

"Because of its unique nature, it is a bit of a Grand Designs project. People will take something like this on and transform it into a wonderful home.

"It already has an extension there and has been used as a home for about 50 years, with the owners renting it out, but it does need some renovation and updating now.

"It's just a case of having a bit of imagination, and some dynamite. It's listed so would need planning permission to make any changes.

"What it needs is someone to take it on and love it. It would make an ideal weekend bolthole."

The location shouldn't deter possible buyers, the sellers have said (Strutt&Parker/BNPS)

It added that despite there being static caravans dotted around the property, "the owners are allowed to use them and they can only use them between April and October".

It said: "You have basically got this gated area and effectively your own private beach and no one to share it with.

"The caravans are not allowed to be rented out, but there is no restrictions on the tower so you could put it on Airbnb.

"The tower is less than a minute's walk to the beach, you can literally throw a stone into the sea from your house.

"It is a really unspoilt beach because this section is private. Further along there's a sailing club and it is a popular area."

The top floor could be a fourth bedroom, or would be suitable for a number of other purposes (Strutt&Parker/BNPS)

The tower itself was built in 1806 as part of the British defences during the Napoleonic War.

It is one of 74 Martello towers built along the Kent and Sussex coast, and is a complete find as only 45 remain - with many being ruins, or converted into private homes.

Pevensey Bay is an old fishing village and is renowned as the landing place for William the Conqueror in his 1066 invasion of England.

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