Now, Great Big Hoo lives in a house like this?
asking price: £1.5 million
If you have young children and the lush gardens of Rooftops in Warwickshire look familiar, it may be because it’s where Cbeebies show Twirlywoos was filmed, featuring the adventures of Great Big Hoo, Toodloo, Chickedy and Chick.
But the former Moreton Paddox Estate has an even more colourful history than the pastel-painted characters in the hit kids TV series.
Because this modern fivebedroom family home has been built on the site of an Edwardian mansion that was requisitioned for the occupation of hundreds of Czech soldiers during the Second World War.
Winston Churchill went to inspect the troops when they were stationed at the house near Leamington Spa, and it was from here a covert operation was launched to assassinate one of Hitler’s top men.
Set back from the road, entrance is via the first floor into the hall which has a huge window at the end overlooking the grounds. At one side of the first floor is the kitchen, family and dining area with a balcony and, on the other, is a guest suite, utility room, cinema room and study, and another balcony. The master bedroom with en-suite and dressing room is on the ground floor, together with three further bedrooms and a gym.
With its wartime history and TV credentials, Rooftops is a fascinating house but that’s not all… an old fountain that used to stand in the grounds is now outside a shopping mall in Kansas!
■ Rooftops is for sale with Mr and Mrs Clarke. See mrandmrsclarke.com