SING THEIR PRAISES
The Notre Dame fire is a timely reminder to cherish our cathedral cities, says MARY GOLD
WhIlE we lament the burning of the magnificent medieval cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, it’s time to admire our own.
We tend to take them for granted but there are almost 100 in the UK, defining our Christian culture. Built to attract pilgrims from far and wide, now they pull in people for other reasons — one of which is the property premium.
A 2018 survey by Winkworth found properties with a cathedral view came with a 14 per cent premium, rising to 18 per cent for Canterbury. Terrace houses with a view of a cathedral had the highest premium at 24 per cent.
Christopher Somerville, author of Ships Of heaven, The Private life Of Britain’s Cathedrals, says: ‘ From the very days they were built, they were a magnet for being the busiest and most enjoyable places to be.
‘The areas around cathedrals also tend to look good, with fine old buildings and schools. And if you can see the cathedral from your home, so much the better because there’s calm and timelessness about the whole thing which is magnetic.’
But while the pricier cathedral cities have long been smugly waving the primeproperty
had in others. banner, Coventry, there are Ely, bargains Wells to and be St David’s, for example, offer homes well below the national average. In St David’s, Pembrokeshire, the smallest city in the UK, homes rarely come on the market and when they do, they are soon snapped up. Arwel Thomas, of estate egency J. J. Morris, says: ‘ St David’s is picturesque and in the Pembrokeshire National Park, which is right on the coast.
‘The housing stock near the cathedral is mostly Victorian and commands a premium, but the further you move away, the cheaper.’
he is selling a five-bedroom home in seven acres a mile from St David’s for £785,000. With stables and a two-bedroom log cabin, it is cheaper than similar home Counties’ properties ( jjmorris.com).
Ely is another cathedral city with much to offer. Prices there are below the national average and, for £500,000, you can get a four-bedroom detached house. low prices have been linked with the area’s lack of accessibility, but this is being addressed with the expansion of the A10.
howard Pope, of property firm Cheffins, Ely, says: ‘The cathedral certainly brings in buyers. Affordability is mainly what drives our market and we see downsizers cashing in on expensive properties in Cambridge.
‘Ely has retained its rural charm and is a relaxed place to live.
‘Buyers can pick up a two-bedroom house for £210,000 on a new development or a two-bedroom period cottage in the city centre, for about £275,000. The smartest city centre period properties reach about £800,000 to £1 million but would include at least five bedrooms.’
Cheffins is selling a newly-built fourbedroom townhouse with cathedral views for £649,995 ( cheffins.co.uk).
The market in Wells, Somerset, is really all about the cathedral, according to Ben horne, of buying agent Middleton Advisors. he says: ‘People who are from here stay put and those who come to Wells to settle never move on because of the amazing countryside and incredible architecture.’
Oliver Jones, of Allen & harris in Wells, has a waiting list for homes near the cathedral. he says: ‘A house for sale in Cathedral Green sold in a fortnight.’
Wells might be a little quiet when it comes to the property market, but Coventry is the ninth-fastest moving in the UK, according to Rightmove.
The cobbled streets around the ruins of the old cathedral and the new one, built in 1962, contrast with post-war buildings nearby, which have been heritage listed.
Coventry has also been named City of Culture for 2021. The commute into london is about an hour, but will be faster when hS2 is completed around 2025.
David Grubb, of Coventry’s Brian holt agency ( brianholt.co.uk), says: ‘The City of Culture thing has been a big draw and lots of new bars and restaurants are popping up as a result.’