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Original poster

Sigh...lovely detached 16th century cottage

88 replies

Jackydaytona · 05/09/2023 15:49

...has come up for sale near me...

We currently live in a very boring 80s 3 bed detached. It's nice. Got everything we need. But...oh, I'd LOVE to live in period property with a walled garden (which this has)
Price wise, it's probably the same as the current house as it's on a main road and has no parking (I know... I know...!)

Come on, you lovely lot, tell me I'm an idiot. Point out all the issues of period properties... because I've got the "longing"...

Sigh.

OP posts:
CosyFanTucci · 05/09/2023 18:42

The road alone would put me off immediately. Nothing beats living down a long drive. An old cottage will also be dark (small windows due to taxes), gloomy, cramped (low ceilings and doorways) and with more likelihood of dry rot, damp and so on. Can’t imagine anything worse.

Takeittotheboss · 05/09/2023 18:51

I live in a 16th century thatched cottage with no parking. Have done for 20 plus years and I don't recognize all of these gripes.
Never had any problems with making things just as we want. Heating bills are actually cheaper than most of friends in similar-sized newer properties. Snug in winter, cool in the heat.
Children born , brought up and gone with no panics🤔 Parking on the street just normal around here.
Trades, as said easy to get as in area with many similar properties. Insurance via usual online comparison sites, not hugely expensive. Criteria re open fire, stoves, fire alarms and safe electrics seem sensible wherever one lives?
No vermin, dust bunnies from doghair rather than the house😂
Spiders seem both normal size and frequency.

C8H10N4O2 · 05/09/2023 18:51

"Main Road" would put me off. You can change most things about a house except the location.

Cost of insurance, cost of heating, restrictions on key elements such as materials used in windows, doors etc. as well as any internal modifications. A family member has a lovely cob cottage dating back to the 1500s - he is in the trade, specialising in listed restoration and still underestimated the costs (more of living in it than the initial work).

Take a picture of it and admire from afar!

Takeittotheboss · 05/09/2023 18:53

Have to agree though, a busy road or a hectic pub would put me off.

Original poster
Jackydaytona · 05/09/2023 18:53

C8H10N4O2 · 05/09/2023 18:51

"Main Road" would put me off. You can change most things about a house except the location.

Cost of insurance, cost of heating, restrictions on key elements such as materials used in windows, doors etc. as well as any internal modifications. A family member has a lovely cob cottage dating back to the 1500s - he is in the trade, specialising in listed restoration and still underestimated the costs (more of living in it than the initial work).

Take a picture of it and admire from afar!

This is very good advice!

OP posts:
Regularhumanbartenderr · 05/09/2023 18:57

@Silkiebunny where are you getting 600£ a year thatch insurance?? Mine is nearly 1k and it’s killing me!

Original poster
Jackydaytona · 05/09/2023 19:01

The pub isn't next this house, btw but next to a barn conversion that's, frankly, insanely priced (I think the sellers bought in the 2021 madness..)

OP posts:
CutesyUserName · 05/09/2023 19:01

Regularhumanbartenderr · 05/09/2023 18:57

@Silkiebunny where are you getting 600£ a year thatch insurance?? Mine is nearly 1k and it’s killing me!

Our insurance is nearly £1400 a year and it's not even thatched!

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 05/09/2023 19:03

We moved out of our Victorian villa in 2013. Couldn’t afford to heat it. Power bills were 5 1/2 k pa then.

It was still freezing with all the heating on.

Anxioys · 05/09/2023 19:06

Jackydaytona · 05/09/2023 16:44

Sounds gorgeous @silkiebunny 😍

In an unrelated question ...would you buy a house next door to a pub?

Not if I wanted a reasonable mortgage. Never buy a house next to a pub.

PhilMitchellsleatherbomber · 05/09/2023 19:21

I too love a ‘proper’ period house like you have described, sadly they don’t exist where I live we would have to move to a rural area to get the detached cottage with land and parking, and I want to live close to amenities so it’s a non starter as much as they are lovely. There are lovely ‘grand’ period properties where I live but they are all terraced with no parking and a lot have been carved up into flats and HMO’s and look very unkempt, it’s a real shame, they just don’t suit our lifestyle, we want to be detached with a large driveway for our cars and a garage for bikes etc so a more contemporary property it is.

Original poster
Jackydaytona · 05/09/2023 19:39

PhilMitchellsleatherbomber · 05/09/2023 19:21

I too love a ‘proper’ period house like you have described, sadly they don’t exist where I live we would have to move to a rural area to get the detached cottage with land and parking, and I want to live close to amenities so it’s a non starter as much as they are lovely. There are lovely ‘grand’ period properties where I live but they are all terraced with no parking and a lot have been carved up into flats and HMO’s and look very unkempt, it’s a real shame, they just don’t suit our lifestyle, we want to be detached with a large driveway for our cars and a garage for bikes etc so a more contemporary property it is.

I think this is the issue tbh

Unless you can afford a country pile, then listed/period property does not cater for modern families/living (no parking, lots of stairs/levels, smaller rooms...)

We have 3 cars and can - just - for them on our drive

There is nothing wrong with the current house, but I'm getting itchy feet, and at 51, this may be my last chance :(

Interestingly, we were at our first house for 10 years, and this year will have been here for 10 years... I've got the 10 year itch! 😀

OP posts:
SarahAndQuack · 05/09/2023 19:41

For me, main road and no parking would be big drawbacks. I also wouldn't buy a house next door to a pub, since that's been raised.

My house isn't listed, and is younger than yours (pre-1750). I am surprised at all the comments about cold houses. Yes, ok, it can get cold in winter - but not that cold! And in summer it is absolutely wonderful. Given we seem to be going over to hotter summers, for me this is a huge plus. Last year, when it was absolutely sweltering outside, I just had to step into our living room to be beautifully comfortable.

Maintenance, though, yes. Sad

Original poster
Jackydaytona · 05/09/2023 19:41

Anxioys · 05/09/2023 19:06

Not if I wanted a reasonable mortgage. Never buy a house next to a pub.

Show quote history

Yeah...current owners only been there 22 months...(but want £80k more than they paid for it...I think someone needs to sit them down and discuss current housing stats/rates!)

Bit of a 🚩

OP posts:
lastminutewednesday · 05/09/2023 19:48

I had a house that was built in 1475. Grade 2 listed. Energy was cheap. It was warm in winter and cool in summer. Had less bother with it than I have with my current (rubbish in comparison humph) house that is 1950's

The only issue the listing caused was when we needed new windows and had to get new ones built around the splinters of wood that were still sound in the old ones. And we couldn't have painted over the wood panelling in the living room (not that we would have wanted to). Everything else we were allowed to change as we wanted with no issue.

I miss that house every day.

Prettypaisleyslippers · 05/09/2023 19:52

Way too hot in summer and cold in winter. Nothing will be standard, doors/windows etc

Original poster
Jackydaytona · 05/09/2023 20:05

lastminutewednesday · 05/09/2023 19:48

I had a house that was built in 1475. Grade 2 listed. Energy was cheap. It was warm in winter and cool in summer. Had less bother with it than I have with my current (rubbish in comparison humph) house that is 1950's

The only issue the listing caused was when we needed new windows and had to get new ones built around the splinters of wood that were still sound in the old ones. And we couldn't have painted over the wood panelling in the living room (not that we would have wanted to). Everything else we were allowed to change as we wanted with no issue.

I miss that house every day.

You are NOT helping! 😬🤣

OP posts:
SummerSazz · 05/09/2023 20:36

I live in a stone barn built sometime around 1750. Current issue is with woodlice who are apparently having a sex orgy and multiplying at alarming rates 🤣

Everything else is fab, including insurance just over £500 but I won't go into detail about any of the rest of that 😉

Barleysugar86 · 05/09/2023 20:47

Lived next to a village pub before and it was no bother at all. Occasionally heard early morning deliveries once a week or live music on the odd Saturday night in the summer. But no problems with people being sick or vomiting or smoking outside the house (smokers went into the beer garden at the back). Honestly barely even recognised it was there most of the time. Was useful as a place to go for food when we couldn't be bothered to cook :)

Silkiebunny · 05/09/2023 21:37

Insurance currently with thehomeinsurer.co.uk, previously with Lloyd Whyte - do need to change to keep low.

fuckssaaaaake · 05/09/2023 21:52

CassiniG · 05/09/2023 17:04

Is it thatched?

Thatching spiders can be the size of dinner plates.

That's right. DINNER PLATES.

Oh my gos I've always wanted a thatched roof. Not any more

AgathaX · 05/09/2023 21:53

Go for it! You're only here once, so if you can afford this beautiful house and would like to live there then really, why not?
Yes cold in winter, maybe, but wonderfully cool in summer which is such a bonus.
Parking could be an issue, you need to decide on that. Many old villages are the same and people cope perfectly well.
The joy from living in a beautiful, period house is worth a lot.

Silkiebunny · 05/09/2023 22:01

We have a thatched roof and do get spiders but nothing that big, maybe an inch are biggest ones. Get lots of birds as well, often greenfinch.

Laboheme78 · 05/09/2023 22:01

It can be a pain in the arse.

I would make enquiries about your local conservation department and see if you can find out how progressive they are.

But I have a 16th century cottage, and after 16 years of living here I can still sit and marvel at how beautiful bits of it are. I just love everything about the country living aesthetic and I get to live it every day.

Horriblewoman · 05/09/2023 22:07

My dream house has just come on the market. I’ve walked past it for years and have always said I’d love to live there.

It’s a derelict Victorian steam pump house and is on for insane money. Plus I’m already midway through a renovation. Plus it’s not near enough a station to get to work. Plus I don’t want to leave London. But I love it!