Tour the converted water tower that was the most viewed property on Rightmove in January

Converted water tower, conversion property, Rightmove, home for sale, Leicestershire

(Image credit: Rightmove)

published 16 February 2021

Rightmove has announced their most viewed property in January was a converted water tower in the market town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire.

The tower, which is marketed by Fisher German, is currently listed on the real estate website for £595,000 and is described as a 'fascinating mix of contemporary and period architecture with superb views.'

This nineteenth-century tower is a pristine modern home, featuring three bedrooms, including a master bedroom suite with a mezzanine bathroom. There are two other bathrooms, along with a period reception hall, stunning oak and steel-spine staircase, and a living and dining kitchen.

Elements of this property's unique heritage remain visible throughout the tower- most notably through the transparent floor in the kitchen, which showcases the cast iron pipework that was used to drain the water tank when the building was in operation.

Upstairs, a reminder of the tower's rich history is evident in the exposed cast beams in the master bedroom, which includes the builder's name: 'W. Waller & Co Chesterfield'.

See: Modern home decorating ideas: 18 striking design ideas worth copying

The tower, which dates back to 1853, may still stand as a staple above the town it previously served, though its exceedingly luxurious features have transported this landmark firmly into the contemporary day.

Similarly, the exterior blends the tower's original yellow brick construction in English bond with stone dressings, with a stylish curved glazing extension. The splendor of this design was later awarded an LABC award when it was recognized as the best re-use or conversion of an existing building in 2016.

The Water Tower also has a patio and a private garden that offers the perfect setting to a (post-pandemic) garden party with a twist.

In his discussion of this brilliantly bizarre property, Rightmove's Director of Property Data Tim Bannister shared: 'It's always fun to showcase quirky properties that stand out from the crowd, and this converted water tower certainly falls into that category.'

He continued: 'You don't need to be a property expert to see why it's garnered so much attention from the British public – it's a fantastic example of how innovative architecture can really reenergize and transform a period property.'

The Water Tower is currently under offer with Fisher German. Photographs courtesy of Rightmove.

Want to explore another unique property? Explore a modern floating home in Amsterdam.

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team.

Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US whilst studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site.

Megan currently lives in London, where she relocated from her hometown in Yorkshire. In her home, she experiments with interior design trends and draws inspiration from the home decor ideas she observes in her everyday work life. Her favorite pieces include her antique typewriter and her expansive collection of houseplants. When she isn’t writing, she is browsing London’s coffee shops and bookstores to add to her ever-growing library, taking over the open shelving in her apartment.