Stained glass windows flood this former chapel with light. Photo: Carter Jonas
Many of us prefer conversions to purpose-built homes, but have you ever wondered why we have such affection for them?
"As our world feels increasingly homogenised, people are increasingly drawn to homes that are one-of-a-kind. Converted properties hold particular appeal because they offer something unique, with a level of character and backstory that you simply can’t create from scratch," explains Sarah Douglas, managing director at Marchand Petit.
"Whether it’s the arches or stained glass windows of a church, or the industrial bones of a warehouse, conversions like these stand out for the stories they tell of a past life as much as for their architectural value."
These are some of the most interesting on the market.
1. Avro, Manchester, £475,000
Aircraft were once made in this historic mill, now a collection of apartments. Photo: Bridgfords
A ground floor flat in a 200-year old Grade II-listed mill overlooking the Rochdale Canal in Manchester. Previously known as Brownsfield Mill, the building is named after aircraft manufacturer AV Roe & Co which it housed early in the 20th century.
The flat, one of 31, includes an open plan kitchen and living area, two double bedrooms, two bathrooms, exposed brickwork, timber ceilings and access to a communal garden. If you’re buying as an investment, you'll be pleased to discover that it can generate £31,800 per year in rental income. Through Bridgfords.
2. Bristol, £580,000
This first floor flat in a former bank is very centrally located. Photo: Knight Frank
Anyone who fancies living centrally should get their money’s worth at Bristol's The Royal Mint, a luxurious and spacious apartment on the first floor of a former Bank of England branch.
In the heart of the Old City, it comprises a full width kitchen, living and dining space, two double bedrooms and a bathroom fitted with a freestanding tub, all sumptuously decorated. Find out more from Knight Frank.
The roomy barn comes with over an acre of land. Photo: Chartwell Noble
Former agricultural barn Brockamin View in Worcester has been transformed into a 2,700 square foot family home.
There are original wrought iron beams in the kitchen and dining area’s impressive cathedral ceiling, a mezzanine above, and five double bedrooms, two sitting rooms, a gym and study. The grounds extend to about 1.2 acres and look out over farmland. Contact Chartwell Noble.
4. Shotley Bridge, County Durham, £1.2m
Following extensive renovation, the village hall is spectacular inside. Photo: Finest Properties
When the current owners bought this former County Durham village hall in 2019 it had been lying empty for a decade. They set about giving it a contemporary makeover, creating 5,500 square feet of versatile accommodation.
It opens into a hall with a glass-sided staircase and a sculptural chandelier, then flows through into an open plan living area with a sitting room and kitchen beyond. A study and bedroom wing with its own entrance are also on the ground floor, with four more bedrooms and two bathrooms on the first floor and a useful loft room above. Via Finest Properties.
5. Woodlands, Bramdene, Hampshire, £1.395m
This restored Victorian chapel is surrounded by countryside. Photo: Carter Jonas
Believed to date from 1889, beautifully restored Woodlands Chapel in Bramdene, Hampshire, includes four bedrooms — one used as a study, a kitchen/breakfast room, a garden room, bell tower and sweeping rural views.
The vast reception room has a raised seating area, a soaring ceiling and stained glass windows. Get in touch with Carter Jonas.
The buyer of this striking home won't be short of space. Photo: Strutt & Parker
At nearly 5,000 square feet, this apartment in Woolhampton, Berkshire, is the largest home in a development that was previously a school for Benedictine monks and incorporates the former grand dining hall and kitchens.
There are bedrooms, three reception rooms, and plenty of original features, plus a private terrace.
7. Long Clawson, Leicestershire, £1.75m
The listed windmill integrates seamlessly with the adjoining house. Photo: Fine & Country
Mill Farm in Long Clawson, Leicestershire, stands in over 11 acres of land and cleverly integrates an early 19th century, grade II-listed windmill.
The main house has two ensuite bedrooms, dining, sitting and garden rooms and thanks to a ground source heat pump and solar thermal and PV panels, is extremely energy-efficient.
A door in the hall leads into the five-storey mill with a sitting room, bedroom, bathroom, office and storage space. Contact Fine & Country.
Although 200 years old, the former watermill is highly sustainable. Photo: Sowerbys
This 200 year-old watermill in Itteringham, Norfolk, has won awards for its sustainable design as it’s fitted with renewable technologies such as a water sourced heat pump, solar hot water panels and a solar PV system with a battery for storing electricity.
Full-height windows in the sociable living and dining area overlook the mill pool, a woodburning stove is in the sitting room and all six bedrooms are ensuite. Two self-contained cottages could be used for guests or rented out. Through Sowerbys.
9. Dartmouth, Devon, £2m
You'll be able to while away the hours admiring the views. Photo: Marchand Petit
Over the past 200 years, this Grade II-listed mill has been a paper mill, a bakery, a brewery and from 1946 to 1999 was The Dartmouth Pottery.
A high-end, light-filled penthouse spans the entire top floor, consisting of five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a magnificent kitchen, dining and sitting room with views over the River Dart.
There are vaulted ceilings and exposed timber beams and stone walls throughout. From Marchand Petit.
10. Freshford, Bath, Avon, £2.85m
The Old Brewery's octagonal chimney is a local landmark. Photo: Savills
If living in a former brewery sounds like a dream come true, this could be the perfect home for you.
The impressively proportioned property in Bath — a converted seven-bedroom Georgian brewery and an adjoining one-bedroom cottage — includes a modern kitchen/breakfast room, a library and a 70-foot double-height sitting room with far reaching views. Get in touch with Savills.
