WowHaus

Bags of potential, with this 1970s modernist time capsule near Workington, Cumbria, possibly being the cheapest house I’ve ever featured. Especially after a price drop.

If it isn’t, it’s the cheapest one I have featured for quite some time. I used to pull up cheap ones in the middle of the USA or something in rural France for modest money. But in the UK? You rarely find anything of interest under £500k. And this one is up for far less than that.

I would guess that’s because this distinctive 1970s house needs some work. The agent doesn’t shy away from that in his description, but it’s also likely due to its location.

It isn’t a bad spot, in truth, which I hope the image shows. A village location of Camerton that’s less than a 10-minute drive to Workington and only 20 minutes to Cockermouth. Even if the location doesn’t work for full-time living, this could work as a holiday let.

From experience, retro holiday lets can be popular, although there would be expenditure and commitment required to do that. It isn’t something to walk into without serious thought. But the opportunity is there.

Or you could move to this part of Cumbria if work allows. Again, investment would be required, but at the asking price, there might well be money left in the budget to restore this largely single-storey house to its former glory.

I don’t have an architect’s name, but it looks to be an individual design, with its 1970s exterior largely untouched. The glazed area to the side might have been added later, but that’s the only potential change here. The design has aged well, and with a refresh, it should continue to do so.

The interior hasn’t changed much since the 1970s, either. That’s both a positive and a negative, depending on your view of that particular era. Personally, I love the original touches here. Of course, it means work is required. According to the agent, ‘quite a lot of work’, too, which is likely to become evident from viewing rather than simply browsing the photos.

The wood ceilings would have to stay, with the tiled ceilings possibly being replaced. I love the open spaces, enhanced by those original glass doors – not something you see often. Some original lighting is still in place, too.

Talking of originality, we have here what is possibly the best kitchen I have seen for some years. The images could be straight out of a high-end interiors magazine of the era: the units, the appliances, the tiling, the ceiling, but above all, the orange shade that dominates this large space. It is pretty much a shrine to the era.

Elsewhere, the carpets have probably had their day, the decor is tired, and the glazing might need refreshing. This isn’t a job for the faint-hearted. But there are so many wonderful little touches still in place here, from the lighting in the staircase to the spiral staircase to the garage. Plenty to lose, but also plenty to keep and maintain.

The house is approached via a ‘quiet, leafy lane’ just out of the village. There’s parking on the drive in front of the built-in garage on the ground floor, which is described as a double. Potential there for cars, storage, or even extending if you need to (with the right permissions).

There are steps up to the main entrance on the first floor. Or, if you’re the kind of person who parks the car in the garage, you can use the spiral staircase leading up from the garage/utility to the conservatory attached to the reception area.

The main living accommodation on the first floor is split into three main areas. Looking at it from the front, the right-hand side has a large lounge/reception, the conservatory and a separate dining room. Those lovely glass doors separate the rooms. Some great views over the rooftops towards the distant fells from the living rooms, too.

The middle section is essentially the entrance (with a WC just off the hall) and the kitchen. I’ve already talked about the kitchen, and for me, ripping it out would be a crime against interior design. But each to their own. I suspect some people might prefer something more open to the rest of the house.

The three bedrooms and shower room are on the left-hand side of the house, on a slightly raised level accessed via a couple of steps from the hall. All three bedrooms are described as being of a good size, and the shower room is the most modern and up-to-date space in the house—probably the only space completely updated since construction.

When it comes to outside space, it’s all fairly low-maintenance. There’s a paved terrace at the front and a private walled garden at the side, accessed through the utility room. Nothing spectacular, but all very functional.

This is probably the best ‘project’ I’ve seen on the market for some time, and amazingly has just had a price drop making it even cheaper. That price? This one is up for just £200,000 right now.

Images and details courtesy of Mark Buchanan. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.