Ever fancied taking up residence in the former home of someone rich and famous? Every now and then, a property with a very important past comes onto the market, giving an ordinary member of the public the chance to own a little slice of history. Whether it’s LS Lowry’s spacious semi-detached (complete with splatters of paint on the floor), or the magical 14th century cottage that served as the birthplace of Harry Potter in the recent movies, let’s take a look at some famous properties that are currently on the market.
Cowden, Sussex (former home to Roger Hargreaves, Mr Men author)
This beautiful 203-acre Tudor estate has actually had two famous owners in its illustrious history. Actor Sir John Mills lived here during the 1950s and 1960s, before Mr Men creator Roger Hargreaves moved in. Several of the famous Mr Men books were written here, cementing this property’s place in children’s literary history. The property has been restored beautifully, retaining the old timber beams from the 1580s, while adding luxurious touches like a gym, swimming pool and three estate cottages.
Mottram, Greater Manchester (former home to LS Lowry)
One of Salford’s most famous sons, LS Lowry, lived here for almost thirty years. He created many of his most famous pieces here – and amazingly, there are still paint splatters in the dining room, where he used to stand his easel. The property is now grade II listed, and the charming village of Mottram has conservation status, helping to maintain a lovely, traditional architectural style throughout the area.
De Vere House (used in Harry Potter films)
The impressive authenticity of this medieval building in Suffolk was enough to convince the producers of the Harry Potter films to use this house as the fictional ‘birthplace’ of the boy wizard. It’s now up on the market for £950,000, and comes complete with an array of characterful features, including a stone spiral staircase, an original medieval wall painting and an oak carved doorway. The distinctive exterior is surely the main selling point for this property – and one lucky buyer is set to own a real piece of cinematic history.
Woodcock Hill, Hertfordshire (former home of McVitie’s founder)
A four-bedroom property, which was formerly part of Robert McVitie’s family home, recently came onto the market, giving any biscuit lover a chance to own a piece of British history. Founder of McVitie’s, Robert purchase the property back in 1907 and converted it into apartments in the 1950s. The gorgeous ground-floor apartment currently up for sale features breath-taking views over the surrounding three acres of land, as well as the high ceilings and parquet flooring that you’d expect of this type of property. Whether the kitchen will come stocked with digestive biscuits is another matter altogether.
