Buying time! How you could own a home featuring a clockface from the company behind Big Ben for £550,000
If the clock that’s the focal point of Norman and Valerie Plummer’s home in Rutland seems familiar, there’s good reason. It was made by Dent, the company that built the clockface of Big Ben – and it was even modelled on the iconic timepiece.
However, these days, like Big Ben – which has fallen silent for repairs – it is without the bongs.
‘The bellcote houses the bronze bell, which used to chime every quarter,’ says Valerie. ‘Norman rings it on special occasions – like the Queen’s Jubilee. But he has to get out the 9ft ladder, climb into the loft and pull the rod that strikes the hammer. It’s worth it, though.’
The clock, pictured, is the focal point of Norman and Valarie Plummer's home in Rutland
The Victorian turret clock is part of the original stable block of Barleythorpe Hall and dates from 1870. The Grade II listed block was converted in 2000 to create what is now called The Clockhouse.
The Barleythorpe estate was the property of the 5th Earl of Lonsdale, founder of the Automobile Association and known as the ‘Yellow Earl’. He was the donor of the Lonsdale belt for boxing and Master of the Cottesmore Hunt. His name was later given to the Lonsdale clothing brand. He liked breeding horses, but Valerie says: ‘Sadly his gambling habits never kept up with the breeding, and he was forced to sell parcels of land every so often to pay his debts.’
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Lonsdale built gasworks in the village of Barleythorpe, and it was gas that originally illuminated the face of the hand-cranked clock at night. ‘It must have been quite an expedition to move the hands,’ says Valerie. ‘Although now it’s electrified with a control box in the pantry, it still has to change when the clocks go forward and back. So in spring it has to stop for 11 hours, and one hour in autumn.
Rutland: £550,000
Bedrooms: 4
Unique features: Clock made by Dent, manufacturers of Big Ben’s timepiece; former 1870 stable block belonging to Barleythorpe Hall; Grade II listed; landscaped gardens with sundial.
This is a former stable block belonging to Barleythorpe Hall and is Grade II listed
Contact: Hurfords, hurfords.co.uk, 01572 770777
‘The only time the clock went wrong, our neighbour on the left was enjoying a glass or two of Bordeaux in the garden, when he looked up and saw the clock running backwards,’ says Valerie. ‘He decided he’d maybe had enough wine for the evening.’
The stables themselves enjoyed the prestige of housing the carriages and horses of the Belgian royal family during the First World War – and the block’s walls were built of stone from quarries near Rievaulx Abbey, the original Lonsdale seat being in Yorkshire. ‘There are the most wonderful ammonites, almost in every stone,’ says Valerie.
The property has four bedrooms and is set in landscaped gardens, where there is a sundial.
‘I’m 73 this year and Norman is 71,’ says Valerie. ‘Our ambition has always been to build our own eco-home and now is the right time to make the move. We will never be able to replicate this, but we can create something quite new.’
More properties that will chime with house-hunters
This Grade II listed home was built as the Almonkton village school in 1856
DERBYSHIRE: £500,000
Bedrooms: 3
Unique features: Grade II listed home, built as the Almonkton village school in 1856; still-functioning school clock; four reception rooms; gardens on all sides of the house.
Contact: Fine & Country, fineand country.com, 01332 973888
This 5,000 square foot converted clock house is set in the grounds of Century Garston Park and even has its very own outdoor heated swimming pool
SURREY: £1.985 million
Bedrooms: 7
Unique features: 5,000 sq ft converted clock house set in the grounds of 18th Century Garston Park, near Godstone; five reception rooms; outdoor heated swimming pool, tennis court and grounds of 1.2 acres; a further four acres of grazing land are available by separate negotiation.
Contact: Hamptons International, hamptons. co.uk, 01883 345255
This clock tower could be purchased for as little as £1 from Moray Council but they would need to be convinced by the plan ahead of releasing the property
MORAY: FROM £1
Bedrooms: Currently 0
Unique features: The 1839 Clock Tower in Dufftown Town Square, the basement of which has previously been a jail and public WC; ground floor and three upper floors; grey granite walls; various commemorative plaques on the tower; could be bought for as little as £1 but the tower needs extensive restoration work and Moray Council would need convincing of what the buyer intends to do before releasing it.
Contact: Moray Council, moray.gov.uk, 01343 543451
This mews house with an exterior clock on the Burton Park country estate has a backdrop of the South Downs and is Grade II listed
WEST SUSSEX: £450,000
Bedrooms: 2
Unique features: Mews house with exterior clock on the Burton Park country estate; set in 140 acres of private parkland with two lakes, woodland, formal gardens, croquet lawn and tennis courts, all with the backdrop of the South Downs; Grade II listed.
Contact: Jackson-Stops, jackson-stops.co.uk, 01730 812357
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