Fascinating past revealed at show’s ‘mystery house’

ONE tends to salivate when a house comes with a bit of history and the one pictured below comes with plenty.

This property on the A48 is also a terrifically pretty with plenty of space, inside and out.

It’s not your usual Grade Ii-listed property, however. It is said to have Flemish influences when it comes to architectural style, and it’s square, proportioned shape gives it the appearance of a doll’s house.

Sitting in glorious grounds, the property is in the hamlet of Bullo Pill, near Newnham on Severn.

Pill is a River Severn expression for a small pool or inlet. No surprises then that this property is a short distance from the river and even fewer surprises when one learns it has some serious maritime connections.

The property has its origins in the mid to late 19th century and may have even been built for the local harbourmaster.

Captain Ralph Kerr, CBE, who was commander of battle cruiser HMS Hood, which was sunk by the German battleship Bismarck in 1941, is believed to have had links to the property. A photo of him, inset into a picture of HMS Hood, was gifted to the current owners when they bought the house and will stay with the property.

A well-presented, detached, six-bedroom property, it certainly makes a unique family home. TV researchers thought so, too, featuring it as the ‘mystery house’ on Escape to the Country in January 2013.

Architecturally it is a quirky house, with show-off turrets and interesting design details.

It is on the market for £900,000 with Fine & Country Chepstow, as seen on Rightmove.