Pretty 18th-century building conceals 20ft-deep hollow used as oven when …

Posted on by Listify Me

By
William Cook


PUBLISHED:

16:07 GMT, 26 September 2012


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UPDATED:

16:11 GMT, 26 September 2012

Headtorches on! This eighteenth-century cottage is the perfect property for a potholer.

The aptly named Rock Cottage looks like an idyllic rustic retreat from the outside, but underneath it is a 20 foot deep sandstone cave with steps and a handrail at the end of the patio.

The grade II-listed building is on the market for £305,000 in Tettenhall, near Wolverhampton.

More than meets the eye: Rock Cottage, near Wolverhampton, sits on top of a 20ft cave

Secret passage: Owner Tina Watson climbs the narrow staircase to the grassy viewpoint above

Current owner Tina Watson has lived in the house for seven years. ‘It’s certainly quirky’, she says.

‘I’ve had a few viewings and people are fascinated by it.

‘The history of the area was such a draw when I moved in – it’s so interesting and central to Wolverhampton’s past.’

A near vertical, three foot-wide
staircase leads up from the cave to a hidden area of grassland which
commands stunning views across the city.

Part
of the cave is lined with bricks and is believed to have been used as
an oven in the cottage’s former life as a drinking den for travelling
politicians.

That’s one way to get more space! The cave’s entrance is at the bottom of Tina’s patio

The cave is believed to have housed a brick-lined oven, dating from its previous incarnation as a Victorian pub

The property was originally two houses which were knocked into one when it became The Angel pub in the early nineteenth century.

The pub flourished on account of it
being on the main route for Irish MPs to travel along to Parliament
following the Act of Union in 1801.

The house is being sold by Wolverhampton firm Berriman Eaton.

History: The eighteenth-century building was used as a pub in Victorian times, and was popular with Irish MPs travelling to Westminster

Moving on: After seven years, Tina is selling the house through Wolverhampton firm Berriman Eaton

 

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