A rare cottage linked to Chirk Castle has gone on the open market, offering buyers the chance to own a piece of history that has only changed owners a handful of times.
Believed to have been built in 1676 as a summer house for the castle’s gardens, the property is a Grade II* listed building and remains one of the most unusual homes in the area. It was first sold off from the Chirk Castle estate in the 1920s.
It retains a wealth of period charm, from exposed beams to its striking stone exterior, while later adaptations have created a practical home within the original structure.
The property offers generous accommodation including three reception rooms, five bedrooms and three bathrooms, providing flexible living space across its unique layout.
It is accompanied by two semi-detached bungalows on the open market, set in a peaceful and secluded position close to Chirk.
Owner Michael Kemp, who has lived there since 2004, said the cottage is “completely unique”.
“There’s nothing like it anywhere,” he said. “It’s not like a terrace or a Georgian rectory, it’s a 17th-century summer house. That’s why it’s listed the way it is.”
Originally part of the estate’s formal gardens, the building later became potting sheds before eventually being converted into living accommodation. Mr Kemp is only the third person ever to have lived in the cottage.
“It was never meant to be lived in,” he explained. “The kitchen was originally the potato store, the middle floor was general storage, and the top was used to store apples.”
Mr Kemp’s connection to the cottage goes back decades, after he first visited it as a teenager on school trips from Kent and formed a friendship with the then-owners, Rosemary and John Probert.
Having fallen in love with the property from a young age, he later returned to it following their deaths, when it was left to the Landmark Trust.
He was able to purchase the cottage from the charity, fulfilling a long-held ambition to own and restore the historic building he had known for much of his life.
“It’s incredibly rare,” he added. “Most of the surrounding estate is still owned and protected, so something like this coming up is very unusual.”
Mr Kemp said he first fell in love with the cottage as a teenager after visiting it on school trips.
“I’ve known it since I was about 14,” he said. “It didn’t matter where it was, I just loved the place.”
Over the years, he has restored the once-derelict buildings and developed the surrounding 1.5-acre garden, which features a collection of rare trees and plants and has previously opened to the public.
Despite his attachment, he said the decision to sell came down to practicality.
“I’m 63 now, and the garden is a lot to keep up with alongside working full-time,” he said. “I’d like something a bit more manageable and to make the most of the summers ahead.”
He added: “You start thinking, how many good summers have I got left? Maybe 15. I want to do something with them.”
For further details or to arrange a viewing, prospective buyers can contact Halls Estate Agents. Offers are currently in the region of £649,995 for the property.
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