Britain’s smallest castle hits the market for £330,000 — with one unique feature

Goth autumn is in full swing, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to deck the halls with Halloween-style interiors.

If you want to take the spooky vibes to the next level though, the UK’s smallest castle is now seeking a new owner – and for once in our wild property market, it doesn’t come with a spine-chilling price tag.

From the outside, you could almost see this property in Transylvania, rather than the picturesque market town of Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire.

Inside, it’s not quite as vampiric, channelling a relatively modern, simplistic vibe.

But the winding staircase, complete with a deep purple carpet, could certainly give Dracula a run for his money on the decor front, while lancet arch windows with characteristically-Gothic tracery add to the Stoker vibe.

Better still, the castle is the market for a surprising affordable £330,000, which is less than current UK average (£341,400, according to Zoopla), and a whole lot less than your average castle.

The entire property, affectionately named ‘Gazebo Tower,’ dates back to the 19th century – and as its ‘smallest castle’ title suggests, it’s certainly snug, at just 645 square feet, or 59 square metres.

In fact, the Grade II-listed turret, located near the Welsh border, is so teeny inside that the bath has been placed under the bed to maximise space.

Don’t worry about having to get your partner out of bed every time you need a wash though, just jutting off from the bedroom, there’s also an ensuite wetroom.

Each floor of the home measures approximately five metres across, with the kitchen, living room and bedroom each located on their own floor, as well as a rooftop terrace.

Up there, you can gaze upon stunning vistas of the local countryside – great views which may seem like a coincidence, but are intrinsically tied to the property’s history as a viewing tower, for which it was built back in 1833.

According to estate agents Hamilton Stiller, the listing marks a unique opportunity to own one of the most ‘striking features’ in the area.

Plus, its location – while rural – isn’t too out of the way: 10 miles from Monmouth, 20 miles from Gloucester, and 14 miles from Ledbury.

The nearest train station (Ledbury) has direct links to London, a journey which takes around 2 hours and 32 minutes, and Birmingham is also easily reachable, being just over an hour away.

The listing reads: ‘This Grade II Listed historic folly tower offers 360-degree views across the famous horseshoe bend of the River Wye, the Black Mountains of southeast Wales, the iconic spire of Saint Mary’s Church, Chase Wood and Ross-on-Wye’s colourful architecture.’

A swift glance at Rightmove shows that its price was reduced on September 26, so there could be haggling room for the right buyer.

There’s also potential to extend it for some extra space, with a local planning approval rate in the area of 93.2%.

According to reports in the Daily Mail, it was previously put up for sale in 2023, managed by Savills.

The property was originally under the ownership of Herefordshire Council, but in 2001, the opportunity to buy it was opened up to the public for the very first time.

Back then, the only way to get up onto the first floor was via a ladder – but that’s since been rectified.

After submitting a successful application via post, owner Tony Billinghaminvested many years renovating the unique space into a liveable home.

He and his family also opened the property up to the public, hosting visitors on open days and giving donations to local charities in the process.

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