£1m former Stafford vicarage to go under hammer
It is a small slice of Stafford history.
A Grade-II Victorian house designed by the architect behind the Albert Memorial, will be placed under the hammer later this year.
Abbeylands, in Weston, Stafford, was renovated around 10 years ago and is now made up of five separate apartments. The guide price for the former vicarage is £1,100,000.
The historic home was designed by prolific 19th century architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, best known for his work on the Albert Memorial, the main building of the University of Glasgow and, more locally, who had also worked on the early 1840s restoration of St Mary's Church.
Set within lawn gardens and gravel driveway, each two or three bedroom flat in Abbeylands includes granite work tops, hardwood kitchens, video entry system, and restored doors and fireplaces.
The maintenance company set up to maintain the grounds is included in the price of the building.
Sir Scott, the son of a clergyman, was one of the most prolific architects in the UK, designing or repairing more than 800 buildings around the world.
He started his career designing workhouses across the country, but soon moved onto churches and cathedrals.
It was at this point when he renovated St Mary's Church, in St Marys Place.
Other renovation work included Westminster Abbey, King's College, Cambridge and Tewkesbury Abbey.
But perhaps his most famous work is the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens, London.
Unveiled in 1872, the iconic statue of Albert was placed in 1875 and has been a well visited tourist attraction for many years since.
A seven-strong committee of architects came together to submit ideas, and two – by Sir Scott and Philip Charles Hardwick – were passed onto Queen Victoria in 1963.
The statue was finally completed 11 years after Albert had died from Typhoid.
Sir Scott was knighted in 1872 for his work for the Royal Family. Scott died aged 66 in March 1878 from a heart attack and was buried shortly afterwards at Westminster Abbey.
All the apartments are currently occupied and bring in an annual income of £45,780. Abbeylands will be under the hammer on April 4.
