The cottage was previously the home of artist Antony Dracup, who spent many years transforming it from a traditional terrace into something far more interesting.

It boasts two bedrooms, a living room and a galley kitchen, perfect for family cooking.

But walk further into the home and you’ll come to a massive sandstone cave, which comes complete with vaulted ceilings, ornate pillars and tile mosaics.

Antony didn’t stop there. He also created stunning landscaped gardens, a roof terrace, attic room and bedroom. Astonishingly, he completed many of the cave excavations by hand.

His son, Dennis, said: “Evey house he took up residence in received the Dracup treatment – arches, pillars, balustrades, moulding, marbling, graining, varnishing, stained-glass – all designed and crafted from start to finish by his hand.”

“In true Colditz style – a little every day, but persistently – he chiselled away. His persistence was rewarded with noticeably stronger chest muscles and extra living space.”

Antony died 21 years ago in 2002, at the age of 72, but he used the sandstone caves which are a common sight in the area for his inspiration.

The caves were used as a place for young people to socialise but now form part of the unusual home.

The huge cave structure now makes up half the size of the property and he also levelled parts of the home to create ever bigger living spaces.

His son says on a website dedicated to his father’s work: “By way of a ladder it was possible to access the four levels of terracing, oddly and asymmetrically designed so as to fully involve the climber in the experience -you daren’t put a foot wrong here.”

“Cast concrete, decorative features and moulding shared the daylight with lettuce, tomatoes, an apple tree and much other edible produce.”

“A vertical kitchen-garden which, to my father’s delight, was once mistaken for a Roman Ruin in a local aerial survey.”

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Source: Read Full Article