WW1 sea fort up for sale at knock-down price
Fancy getting away from it all? One property new on the market offers a location where your only neighbours would be seabirds and fish.
Haile Sand Fort stands off the Lincolnshire coast between Cleethorpes and Humberston and was built between 1915 and 1918 to guard the approach to the Humber from the Germans. At the time, it had gun batteries and a steel mesh anti-submarine net stretched across the mouth of the estuary.
The fort was pressed into service again during the Second World War, when 200 members of the armed forces were stationed there. It was used by the army until 1956 and manned by civilians until the 1960s.
And while it cost £1.4 million to construct - that's the equivalent of £1 billion in today's money - it's now for sale at the bargain price of £350,000.
It's being listed through Tepilo, the online estate agent set up by TV star Sarah Beeny, which describes it as unique.
"Sometimes a listing crops up that truly takes our breath away, and that's what happened when we were instructed to sell Haile Sand Fort," says the firm.
While at first glance the fort looks pretty ramshackle, it's unlikely to be washed away any time soon: it's built from more than 40,000 tonnes of concrete and steel and has survived attacks from aircraft and submarines.
Below the circular deck are three floors with a basement and magazine below sea level. There's a central two-storey observation tower. It's described as having good-sized rooms, plenty of storage - and panoramic views.
The fort is being marketed as a development opportunity. One possibility would be to turn it into a luxury venue, like No Man's Fort, Spitbank Fort and Horse Sand Fort near Portsmouth.
All three are hired out for corporate events and weddings - and all the suites have sea views.
Meanwhile, plans are afoot for two sea forts off the coast of Kent which have been slowly decaying into the sea. A team of street artists is to spray-paint the forts this spring, as plans to convert them into a hotel continue.
