Carnforth, Lancashire

TOWER HOUSE

Welcome to Tower House and Lindeth Tower, Silverdale

“Unique” is arguably a much over-used word in estate agency circles, but the combination of Tower House and Lindeth Tower is exactly that. The dictionary definition is “being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else” and never has the word or phrase been more appropriate than here.

Set in delightfully secluded walled gardens which offer a rare degree of privacy, Tower House is a characterful Grade II listed period property of great charm. With captivating sea views from many of the rooms, and garden aspects from others, the house is built to an L shape with a stone plaque reading “Isaac and Anne Hadwen MDCCCXVI” (1816). It offers three reception rooms, three bedrooms and two bath/shower rooms.

Within the grounds sits the piece de resistance – Lindeth Tower. Built as an elaborate Victorian folly, this magical Grade II listed castellated tower offers three-storey, one bedroomed accommodation crowned with a roof terrace surrounded by walls with towers and battlements – from up here the 360 degree views are nothing short of breathtaking. The two properties together offer an unrivalled combination.

Situated within the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Silverdale is a charming village offering sheltered walks over limestone pavements, cliff top paths and natural woodland, leading to panoramic views across Morecambe Bay to the Lakeland Fells. The area is renowned for its flora and fauna, historic buildings and interesting geological features.

Tower House sits in a coastal position adjacent to Gibraltar Farm, a working farm and campsite, and on the single-track lane approaching the National Trust beauty spot of Jenny Brown’s Point, a small headland and renowned wildlife haven. Whilst Tower House may be in a lane-side position, the peace and privacy of the property isn’t compromised thanks to the high stone garden walls which largely surround the house and tower. It also means that if you value a daily walk from your doorstep there are plenty to choose from. Head down to the shore, along the lane to the village, into sheltered woodlands or to one of many nature reserves; RSPB Leighton Moss, Eaves Wood (National Trust land which includes the Queen Victoria Jubilee Memorial known as The Pepperpot, visible from far and wide), Gait Barrows (National Nature Reserve) and Trowbarrow Quarry (a Local Nature Reserve and SSSI). Also within easy reach and worth exploring is Jack Scout, just yards down the lane and offering flower studded pasture leading to a rocky headland looking out to sea and with views of the Lakeland Fells and Heald Brow. If you’re fancying a longer walk then the Lancashire Coastal Way footpath leads from Silverdale to Freckleton, and the Cumbria Coastal Way takes you all the way to Gretna.

If it’s all in the game for you, then Silverdale Golf Club is just over a mile away. Early morning golfers may see roe and fallow deer, but all will have wonderful views of Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland and Howgill Fells.

Tower House is on the edge of the village, a stone’s throw from Wolf House Gallery and café, a popular destination for those seeking arts and crafts or a delicious bite to eat –how fortunate to have this almost on the doorstep. The village itself is a short walk and offers St John’s Church, Silverdale St John C of E School (nursery and primary years), a hotel and a pub, a small supermarket, post office, independent butchers, antique shop, Indian restaurant and café.

In terms of accessibility, the village is served by Silverdale railway station on the Lancaster to Barrow-in-Furness line. On the main west-coast line, Lancaster (13.5 miles) provides a service to London Euston in 2.5 hours. If travelling north by train, Oxenholme Station is 15 miles distant.

If travelling by road and seeking a wider range of retail, commercial and social amenities:

Lancaster 13.5 miles

Kendal 15.3 miles

Preston 33.6 miles

Manchester 66 miles

If you’re jetting off for work or pleasure then the nearest airports are:

Manchester 74 miles

Liverpool 79 miles

Tower House

Bought and refurbished in 1991, this has been a much-loved family home. Over the decades, Lindeth Tower has been used both as guest overflow space and as a commercial holiday cottage; this quirky and utterly charming tower has, until recently, been a successful holiday let welcoming hundreds of visitors over the last ten years thanks purely to a small discreet sign on the gate – such is the appeal of this property no further marketing was ever necessary, and the sign alone generated more enquiries than could ever be accommodated.

Let’s start at the beginning, with the main house. Both the front door and the back door of Tower House are easily approached from either the lane or the parking areas. On a day-to-day basis the back door is most often used. A small gated courtyard leads from the parking area and also the lane and is laid with old stone flags having planted borders. The back door’s entrance porch is very much a practical space with a hardwearing slated floor and work top. There’s a Belfast sink for washing off pots, boots and dogs, plumbing for a washing machine and space for both an under counter freezer and tumble drier. The room is heated and is roomy so provides plenty of storage space for coats, boots, prams and the like. A six panel door with a lovely old stone surround opens to the instantly welcoming kitchen. The view between the houses to Morecambe Bay Estuary is captivating – a large picture window draws the eye and makes the most of this ever-changing vista. The blue two-oven Aga provides more than just cooking, it heats the hot water, airs the clothes and provides a destination for pets and cold hands. Base and wall units provide lots of storage and there are integral fridge and dishwasher appliances. There’s an electric two ring hob if you want to turn the Aga off in summer and a sink unit looking into the courtyard.

The internal doors are old six panel ones with a painted finish, windows are sash or casement, some with secondary double glazing. Upstairs there are some exposed timbers which add character and period charm.

Continuing the tour, from the kitchen into the dining room, a ‘through’ room so likely to be the centre of things, rather than a room that’s shut off and neglected. Another great bay view from here and a couple of shelved recesses for display

and a cupboard for storage. Beyond the dining room is the central staircase hall. A maple wood strip floor has a lovely light golden tone and is echoed in the elegant curve of the staircase handrail. The flooring continues into the cloakroom, handy for guests with its wash basin and loo, with Victorian style wall tiling, heritage brass fittings to the sanitary ware and for coats an oak plinth with brass hooks.

The sitting room has gracious proportions and a light and airy feel provided by the high ceiling, deep cornicing, picture rail, ceiling rose and dual aspect with two tall sash windows looking out to the garden and tower and a door to the courtyard. There’s a fine marble fireplace surrounding an open fire which makes a wonderful focal point in this lovely room – it’s not hard to imagine it dressed for Christmas, it must look an absolute treat.

From the hall, double opening part-glazed doors lead into the garden room. This triple aspect extension was added in 1992 and is a great place to sit and watch the birds in the garden with a morning coffee or catch up with the weekend papers. There are double and single doors to the garden and as it is heated it’s very much an all year round useable room.

The stairwell is double height with a high level window perfectly positioned to capture the tower in all its glory from the landing. The split level landing is a room in itself. A window seat is the perfect spot to perch and enjoy the sea view and there’s space for a desk, reading chair or piano.

The main bedroom has both tower and garden views; there are two shelved recesses, wall lights and fitted furniture. The second bedroom also enjoys a tower view and it too has fitted wardrobes. The third double bedroom has a useful walk in storeroom.

There’s a bathroom and a separate shower room. The bathroom is a good size and has a spa bath, wash basin and loo, Victorian style wall tiling, window seat with inbuilt storage and a shelved recess with cupboard under.

The shower room has a cubicle, wash basin and loo. Victorian style wall tiling, heated towel rail and a cupboard housing the hot water storage tank.

Lindeth Tower

Built as a whimsical summer house, Lindeth Tower sits across the lawn from Tower House. A slate plaque above the door on the Tower reads “Erected 1842 by H P Fleetwood Esq” and refers to Henry Paul Fleetwood, a prosperous Preston banker. Celebrated Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell (1810–1865) regularly holidayed in Silverdale in the 1840s and 1850s to escape the summer heat and dust of Manchester. Her novels include Cranford, North & South, Ruth and Wives & Daughters. Ruth, in particular, is widely acknowledged to have been written in Lindeth Tower. The busy and well supported Gaskell Memorial Hall is named after her and is a focal point for local events.

Interested parties may care to take a look at the website www.lindethtower. co.uk. The vendors would be happy to include the domain name and website in the sale, or to un-publish it (as required). A number of regular visitors have asked for their details to be passed on to the new owners if they decide to continue the business. Alternatively, the tower would make the most amazing office or studio – the roof terrace would be perfect for an early morning yoga practice or a glass of something chilled as the sun sets – the vendors tell us that the fireworks at New Year (and indeed throughout the year for celebratory events) are something to behold from such an elevated vantage point, and the sunsets across the bay are simply breathtaking.

Continuing our tour, the doorway in the north-east wall is reached by stone steps and has an impressive door with raised moulded diamond pattern and studs. It opens into the bijou dining kitchen with flagged floor, fitted units, sink unit, electric cooker point, free standing cooker, space for an under counter fridge and a hot water heater. Also on the ground floor is a shower room. A cubicle houses an electric Mira shower, there’s a vanity unit with a hot water heater, a loo and extractor fan.

The stairs rise from the kitchen, opening to the bedroom with pine floor, triple aspect, exposed stone walls and windows with wooden lintels over. A pine ceiling is the floor to the room above, and as the stairs rise once more this is revealed to be the sitting room, again with a triple aspect, the views getting better and better with each floor. Exposed stone walls, wooden lintels over the windows and a sweet open fireplace. Ready for more? The stairs open via a hatch to the roof terrace. This is pure property gold. Gaze out at the Lakeland Fells to the north, Heysham on the coast to the south, and Humphrey Head across on the other side of the estuary. You’ve a bird’s eye view of local comings and goings – it’s an ever changing window on the world. The colours the sunsets cast on the sands, the cross-bay walkers as they weave their way across the sands, the local farmer rounding up his flock – it’s incredibly special and undoubtedly inspirational.

Outbuildings

There’s a single detached garage (the roof has seen better days!) with power and light. Attached is a lean-to which houses the boiler and has space for log storage. A separate store houses the now redundant oil tank which could be removed to free up more space.

Gardens

The vendors have been keen gardeners and the walled garden is testament to that work, it has been well stocked and lovingly tended and has been fully organic for over thirty years. Everything from the established wisteria that adorns the front elevation to the deep herbaceous beds, the kitchen garden and the fig tree have all been positioned and nurtured with great care. The family friendly level lawns have hosted numerous parties and celebrations over the years and even accommodated a sizeable marquee for a family wedding. At the far end of the garden is a parapet with steps at either end – it makes a great viewing platform.

The garden extends to approximately 0.45 acres and is enclosed and consequently completely private, perfect for a family and safe for children and dogs to enjoy. A couple of antique Victorian street lights make for an interesting feature. There are two main paved seating areas, one being slightly raised with a barbecue area and panoramic view across the bay.

It’s a little world of its own – a safe haven and incredibly special.

Directions

Use Sat Nav LA5 0UA with reference to the directions below: Being near both Wolf House Gallery and Jenny Brown’s Point, following signs for either of these two as you near Silverdale will take you in the right direction.

From the M6 Junction 35 take the A6 headed north. After 3 miles turn left towards Yealand Redmayne. Turn right at the T junction in the village and then through Yealand Storrs onto Storrs Lane driving past RSPB Leighton Moss. At the T junction (opposite Silverdale Golf Club) turn left onto Slackhead Lane. Take the second left onto Hollins Lane (following signs at this point for both Wolf House Gallery and Jenny Brown’s Point). Passing Wolf House Gallery on the right you immediately come to a T junction with Gibraltar Farm straight ahead. Turn left here and Tower House is immediately after the farm. The driveway is gated and to the left of the single detached garage.

Practical information  Services

Mains electricity, gas and water. Mains gas fired central heating from a boiler (new in 2021) located in the lean-to attached to the garage. The gas fired Aga in the kitchen also heats the domestic hot water.

In Lindeth Tower there are electric heaters; storage, panel and warm air.

Drainage is to a shared private system located in the garden of the neighbouring property Gibraltar Farmhouse (this is not part of the working farm and is separately owned).

Broadband www.B4RN.org.uk, providing a reliable full fibre connection with 1000mbps download and upload speeds is located nearby but not yet connected to the property.

Council tax band F Please note

Fitted carpets, curtains, curtain poles, blinds, light fittings and integral kitchen appliances as described are all included in the sale. Tower House is attached to Gibraltar Farmhouse – this comprises two properties, a house and attached holiday cottage.

Registered in England and Wales. Company Reg No. 4270819 Registered Office: Ellerthwaite Square, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1DU copyright © 2023 Fine & Country Ltd.

Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Printed 04.01.2023

Lindeth Tower

Tower House

Lindeth

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