UK’s ‘smallest detached home’ hides an incredible network of rooms below ground

A tiny gatehouse listed as the country’s “smallest” detached home has hit the market for £215,000.

The Georgian home lies on Grimston Park, Yorkshire, and appears miniscule from street-level, but its 10ft 10in square room hides a 306sq ft living quarters below it.

Inside the Grade-II listed property, one bedroom in a mezzanine bed area as well as an iron spiral staircase can be spotted, with the underground part of the home featuring a glass roof, kitchenette and bathroom.

French doors lead the way to the two-floor home’s sunken garden, complete with a seating area, wall feature and plenty of shrubbery.

Current owners Debra Bowman, 60, and Dave Bowman, 61, have enjoyed life in the unusual property for 20 years and are hoping to sell the home so they can enjoy their retirement.

The house takes only half an hour to clean, with Debra saying “Who could complain about that?”

Dave and Debra moved into the home at the turn of 2000 after falling in love with the property.

Debra said: “We formerly had a really large, semi-detached home in York, and we were wondering if we actually could handle downsizing quite so drastically from a three-bedroom to a one-bedroom property with ease”.

She continued talking of the dream property, saying: “The atmosphere made it a no-brainer because it was so beautiful, and all our fears were settled really quickly.”

Dave explained that there were a few quirks to get used to, adding: “The bedroom is located on the ground floor and features a small spiral staircase which takes you up to a sleeping area.

“The mattress is placed on a platform as opposed to a bed frame and if you are a tall person like myself, you may knock your head on the ceiling a couple of times like I did.

“The spiral staircase going downstairs takes a little practice, but it didn’t take us long to wrap our heads around it.”

Debra warned that the property offered not just aesthetic, but a lifestyle change, saying: “You do not just move into the house for the aesthetic, you also move in for the lifestyle of a country estate home in a cosy property.”

The Mirror reported that the asking price has dropped by £20,000 since last October.

The latest data from HM Land Registry shows that the £215,000 price tag makes the property a fifth cheaper than the average UK house price.

The homely Georgian property is steeped in history, with many visits by the British monarchy since the 19th century.

The property was also noted in the Doomsday book in 1086, with the countryside home within reach of the A64 and A1.

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