A former First World War watchtower on the North East coast has been listed for less than the price of a London flat.
The converted military structure, which has been a residence for more than 50 years, is on the market for offers over £500,000.
Containing three bedrooms stacked on top of each other as well as a kitchen, bathroom, lounge and top-floor living space with expansive views, the seven-storey building sits within a crescent of terraced homes close to Long Sands Beach.
Its current owner has lived in the Grade II-listed watchtower between North Shields and Whitley Bay since the turn of this century.
Michael Mortimer, managing director of marketing agent Hive Estates, said the building needed some modernisation and cosmetic external work but offered a wealth of "charm and history".
Built as a command station during the First World War, the watchtower was not completed until the fighting was over but was retained and used as a key lookout during the Second World War.
It is understood a soldier was stationed at the structure throughout that latter conflict, possibly living in the building and using its then-open top floor to scan for enemy ships in the North Sea.
The building was sold by the Ministry of Defence in the 1960s and converted into a home.
Marketing photos for the latest sale show a sparsely kitted out interior with wood featuring heavily on beams, kitchen units, bathroom ceiling and shower enclosure.
Each floor contains a single main room, with a curved front facing the sea and the building's flat back used for the winding, carpeted staircase.
A small telescope can be seen inside the top-floor observatory, which potential buyers will be pleased to know now has windows to protect from the weather rolling in from the coast. A door opens on to a railed roof terrace while there is also a yard at ground level.
Mortimer said the phone had been ringing non-stop since the property went on the market, with a busy open day planned for interested parties.
"It would suit an individual with interest in history, architecture and character; a couple; or a family with older children. There are six flights of stairs but it doesn't feel too much, they are not particularly steep or narrow.
"It is a robust building that will stand longer than any of the Victorian properties nearby. It is structurally sound, it doesn't feel creepy or negative in any way, it's a comfortable home."
The height of the upper floors brings in a huge amount of natural light and warmth when the sun is out, Mortimer added, while the sound of wind adds "atmosphere".
As well as the North Sea, views from the watchtower include the historic Tynemouth Castle and Priory, the Cheviot Hills and even Scotland on a clear day.
While some interest had been received from investors looking for rental income, more had come from potential owner-occupiers, according to Mortimer, and the vendor is keen to sell to someone with an appreciation of the building's history.
An average house in London was worth £537,000 in September 2023, according to recent data from the Office for National Statistics.
