Oooh! Mystery £5.5M house in Durham City...

[vindscreenviper]

...does anybody want to speculate with me?

Had a boring day waiting in for a delivery, so had a few hours spending my imaginary lottery winnings on Rightmove and found this;

link

Not much info given but I'd love to know where there is a house in the middle of Durham City with extensive landscaped gardens, stables and paddock.

I thought it might be one of the uni or Durham School buildings but not with stables etc. The only place I can think of with that much land around it is the Observatory on Potter Bank, if it is I would love to live there, the view must be stunning!

Anybody think of any other candidates?

[vindscreenviper]

Hmm, mystery solved I think. Just shown DH, who is a local and he suggested a place which seems to fit the sketchy description.

[mummytime]

Any chance of a PM - as I'm now curious, and its ages until I can gossip with my SIL who might know.

[vindscreenviper]

Pm'd you mummytime

We could be wrong though!

[TheSilveryPussycat]

I think I might be guessing the same as your DH - can you PM me too?

[MairzyDoats]

Urgh, I hate it when there are no pictures!

[FenellaFellorick]

why don't they have pictures though? Surely it isn't a secret? What would happen if you told us on the thread where you thought it was?

I'm nosy

[wowfudge]

Yeah, come on OP - where do you think it is?

[vindscreenviper]

I thought it may be Flass Vale Hall, it's been up for sale before. mot sure if there's enough land around it to build 4 big houses though. any other guesses?

[Hesalovernotabiter]

It's not Lumley Castle is it? I know that's not Durham City but right move could be trying to increase attention by stretching the boundary a bit! Oh and Lumley Castle is up for sale £6 million

[vindscreenviper]

what! Lumley Castle Hotel for sale. What about the afternoon teas, the new owners better not stop those
Those details in the link mention 'the heart of the city' twice and cathedral views. so probably not.

[Doodlekitty]

Lumley castle is def for sale, was in paper yesterday. Said 6 million though

[Hesalovernotabiter]

It's not Crook Hall and Gardens is it?! You can see the cathedral from there.

[vindscreenviper]

It's a few years since my last visit so I can't remember how much land there is around Crook Hall, is there enough for 4 big £1M+ houses?
My DC used to love the Halloween parties there, it would be a shame if it became a private house(unless it was my private house )

[TheSilveryPussycat]

I was a bit worried it was Crook Hall, but Rightmove has had Flass Vale Hall on recently, and then removed (different EA), so I reckon your DH is right.

Never knew about Flass Vale Hall, though DP lives very near Flass Vale. He can see the cathedral and the East Coast line.

[vindscreenviper]

I think there was some comments about Flass Vale on MN when it went on the market. The giant Marmite jar and karma sutra reliefs in the bathroom caused a few

[vindscreenviper]

were some comments

I am fairly literate, honest

[wowfudge]

Hmm - the brief details have more in common with Fernhill, Crossgate Moor, which has two other properties on site already.

Mention of stables in the details and there's none of that at Flass Vale Hall from the description from a couple of years ago.

[vindscreenviper]

I've just googled and I think you could be right wowfudge, there is a pending planning application for 4 houses too.

Have an internet sleuth

Hmm, wouldn't describe it as 'the heart of the city' though, I'll be spending my imaginary lottery winnings elsewhere.

[wowfudge]

I have no idea as I don't know the area - was just intrigued by the advert without photos or proper details!

[BlackbirdOnTheWire]

Urban base appear to be selling Fernhill, Crossgate Moor, but for £3.3m as of 21st May.

www.mouseprice.com/property-for-sale/ref-27167359/for-sale

They describe it as 'heart of the city'. Can't believe there are two such similar properties with the same agent, but if that solves the mystery of the property, it opens the mystery of the £2.2m difference in asking price...

[BlackbirdOnTheWire]

...unless planning permission for 4 £1m+ houses has since been granted, of course!

[DogWalker75]

It says it is on Saddler Street, between the river Wear and the castle. You just have to click the 'view on map' option...

[BiscuitMillionaire]

As a pedantic aside, I don't think you can use 'unequivocal' like that about the proportion of gardens. Maybe they mean unequalled.

[wowfudge]

Typical estate agents Biscuit! It's definitely Fernhill - there have been several planning applications over the years including the one for four large houses. The value of planning permission eh? It does say it is subject to receiving pp.