The Smallest Castle in the U.K. Is Up for Sale and It's as Charming as You'd Imagine

When you think of a castle, your imagination immediately jumps to an image of grandeur, moats, turrets and fairytale wonder. But the old saying "good things come in small packages" can still ring true when it comes to castles, as this small but perfectly formed property demonstrates...

This is Molly's Lodge, a Grade II Listed castle that sits on a 0.61 acre plot of land near the village of Long Compton in Warwickshire.

Originally a gatehouse for the Weston Park Estate on the northern edge of the Cotswolds, Molly's Lodge was built by the famous British architect Edward Blore in the 1830s. Mr Blore is also known for restoring Lambeth Palace and extending Buckingham Palace for Queen Victoria.

The interior

Now a fully functioning home with just one bedroom, the Lodge also features a bathroom, living room, decorative spiral staircase, and dining room complete with mullion windows and cast iron Victorian fireplace.

The exterior

Once you step outside the bijou property, there is a more generous sense of space. The lodge is approached by a long, gravel driveway and is set in a mature garden with beautiful formal lawns, herbaceous borders, an ornamental pond, a potager with soft fruits, vegetables and herbs, a vegetable patch, and chicken run. The idea was for residents of Molly's lodge to be completely self-sufficient.

The Mews

In addition to the rustically charming property, the guide price of £550,000 also includes Molly's Mews, a second building with a double garage, office, and one-bedroom apartment.

Iain Powis from Savills Banbury, where Molly's Lodge is listed, comments:

"Molly's Lodge is certainly a unique Grade II listed home and there really isn't much else like it in the area. The Cotswolds has a real breadth of architectural styles with everything from pretty thatched cottages through to grand manor houses and rectories, but this Gate Lodge offers something completely different. Interest so far has come from local buyers who are looking to downsize, as well as those from further afield who are seeking a bolthole in the Cotswolds countryside."

A dream home, if you ask us!

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