Many of us will know all too well the dangers of opening Rightmove for a sneaky peek into properties available for sale. It’s usually just a harmless endeavour, snooping and daydreaming about just what you'd splurge on when the lottery ticket comes good.
Then there are those who let curiosity get the better of them and go that one step further.
‘It just popped up one day,’ says Angela Hudson of the water tower she spied on Rightmove property website. She and husband Chris went on to acquire the disused water tower that dominates the skyline of the countryside village of Flockton near Huddersfield.
Before they knew it, the couple were heading to auction to battle it out for a property that they hadn’t even been to see, not to mention something they weren’t even sure would be granted planning permission. With a guide price of £4,000, the water tower didn’t seem too much of a gamble, but after a bidding war, Chris walked away £110,000 lighter with a shocked wife and a massive task ahead of him.
‘It’s all “we we we” now, but when I bought it, it was “what have you done?!”’ jests Chris when he reflects on Angela’s shock that day. Luckily the gamble paid off, and what was once a concrete eyesore is now more akin to a piece of modern art you’d see while wandering around the nearby Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
The two-year renovation project wasn’t without its challenges though with the first hurdle being planning permission. ‘We had plans drawn up, approached Wakefield Council, but they didn’t like it, so they turned it down and we had to go to appeal, and we won,’ explains the couple who had done previous renovation projects, but nothing quite of this size. Initially ‘thrilled to bits’ when they first went to see it, they soon realised the enormity of what they’d taken on as they’d essentially bought ‘a giant concrete egg cup.’
Before they installed the stunning spiral staircase that fills the ‘stalk’ of the tower, the only way up was an external ladder fixed to the side. ‘We didn’t realise how thick the concrete was which was a challenge as it was two to three times thicker than expected,’ reflects Chris. ‘Plus, none of the contractors had ever done anything like it before.’ Even with the specialist work on the roof going wrong, and cladding that they’d ordered being sold to someone else, the couple were never fazed: ‘we just weren’t stressed as it wasn’t someone else’s project, so we could take our time,’ explains Chris who was still running his joinery business whilst Angela was working as cabin crew for British Airways.
The result is a completely transformed space with 360-degree floor-to-ceiling windows in the main room of the tower. Working with the curvature of the building wasn’t easy but has been beautifully done with each area designed to maximise the breath-taking views of the surrounding countryside.
Using local businesses such as Harpers Interiors in Shepley to help with the colour scheme, the property invites the outside in by keeping the style minimalist, allowing the surrounding landscape to become an extension of the design. Achieving the desired effect, Angela notes that guests ‘love the views and how we’ve decorated, we haven’t scrimped at all on the fixtures or fittings.’
Indeed, when it’s time to retire for the evening, expect to sink into a large, cloud-like bed covered in luxuriously high thread count cotton bedding. Each of the four bedrooms boast their own ensuite which feature large, powerful walk-in showers, but we wouldn’t expect anything less from a retired water tower.
Sleek and streamlined, the kitchen is elegantly modern and features the best backdrop to your morning coffee which you can sip as the wildlife wakes up around you. Show off to your friends and invite them over for a dinner party as you serve up sublime views around the 12-seater dining table. Angela’s standout piece, she explains how ‘Chris handmade a dining table and curved it in oak so it follows the curve of the building.’
Cocooned by the curvature of the building our favourite aspect are the two lounge areas – one on the main floor with a second hidden away on the top. Blissfully quiet thanks to the thick, specialist glass, we can’t think of a better spot to curl up with a book or simply watch the sun gradually melt away into the horizon.
Available to book on Coolstays, Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, or by emailing the owners directly at hudson.angel2@yahoo.co.uk
Fact box
The property sleeps eight guests across four ensuite bedrooms (three king size and a generous double)
Spread over three floors, there are sixty steps on the spiral staircase, so the property isn’t suitable for those with mobility issues or very small children
There’s on site, off-road parking for up to six cars
Pets are considered
Things to do nearby
There’s plenty of walks to enjoy and farm shops to explore such as Blacker Hill and Thorncliff where you can buy excellent local produce or have a spot of lunch.
Take a stroll around Yorkshire Sculpture Park and admire some of the famous pieces of art on display throughout the grounds whilst enjoying the gorgeous countryside and peaceful river before lunch at one of the park’s restaurants.
Head into Wakefield for an evening out where you’ll find plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained before you retire back to your tower in the sky.
Celebrating a special occasion? Book a table at Three Acres Inn & Restaurant.
For even more art, take a trip to the Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield.
Visit the lovely nearby villages of Slaithwaite and Holmfirth.
