IT’S not unusual to see a former manse come up for sale; converted churches sometimes pop up too.
It is rare though to find a church, ripe for conversion, and a manse come up for sale together.
In the hamlet of Alves in Moray sits The Anchorage, formerly known as Windsor House, an elegant, classical, B-listed Georgian manse dating from around 1835 and thought to have been designed by renowned Elgin architect William Robertson.
Sitting within large walled gardens, it was last upgraded in the 1960s and could do with being brought up to date again, making it ideal for anyone wanting to stamp their own style on a traditional home.
Large and roomy throughout, it has two big reception rooms, a kitchen with an Aga, four bedrooms, bathroom and cloakroom and two attic rooms.
A few years ago, part of the lower ground floor was converted into a high-quality self-contained staff flat with a kitchen/living room, double bedroom and en-suite shower room.
The remaining part of this floor houses a hall, laundry, wine cellar, larder and a coal cellar.
Next door is B-listed Alves Parish Church, which dates from 1769 and is no longer used for worship but could at one time accommodate more than 500 church-goers.
It has a paddock area, originally used as vegetable plots, close by.
Planning consent and a building warrant has been obtained to convert the church into a stunning, detached, two-storey house with interesting and well laid out rooms including a hall, living room, family/dining room, breakfasting kitchen, utility, bathroom and four bedrooms – three of which will be en-suite.
But the potential to create something special doesn’t stop with the church – the sale also includes a steading which has full planning consent for conversion into a large, detached house with a hall, living room, family/dining room, sun lounge, kitchen, utility room, study, bathroom, three bedrooms – two of which will be en-suite, and an internal garage.
Outside there is a walled garden with lawns, mature trees, flower beds and borders. Garden buildings include two large greenhouses.
To the south and west is a woodland plantation which includes a range of specimen trees and rhododendrons. In total, the grounds extend to about 4.6 acres.
Rod Christie of selling agent CKD Galbraith said: “The Anchorage offers buyers an exciting opportunity to create a really stunning family home whilst the steading and church can also be developed and put to a wide range of uses.
“There are very few houses of this size and quality in the county and The Anchorage offers fantastic value for money for the discerning buyer.”
A guide price of £570,000 has been set for all three properties. Alternatively The Anchorage and around 4.6 acres of grounds has a guide price of £450,000, while the steading and Alves Parish Church has a guide price of £120,000. For further information contact Rod Christie on 01343 546362.