Camouflaged by overgrown ivy this Staffordshire property presents a unique challenge to renovators
The house covered in ivy has been left dormant for 44 years(Image credit: Higgins Drysdale)
Nestled in the heart of Norbury, Staffordshire, lies a property that is hidden in plain sight.
This detached house is entirely entombed in ivy making it camouflaged from the road and is set to go up for auction for £140,000.
The home presents, according to the estate agents "A unique opportunity to bid on and buy a plot in a popular location" and is ideal for those looking to renovate a house.
Barely visible from the outside
The red outline here shows where the house is (Image credit: Higgins Drysdale)
If you were passing this house it wouldn't be surprising if you didn't even know it was there as barely any of the structure is still visible.
The front door, which can't be seen from the road, is one of the few things that can be seen, but this is difficult to get to due to the mass of ivy blocking entrance to the home.
The ivy is so overgrown that viewing the property is not permitted ahead of the sale.
Interiors have been left to rot
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The ivy covers the front door and windows to the property(Image credit: Higgins Drysdale)
The home has a dark aura due to being left unattended(Image credit: Higgins Drysdale)
The ivy blocks natural sunlight entering the home(Image credit: Higgins Drysdale)
The home was crumbling walls after being left empty for 44 years(Image credit: Higgins Drysdale)
The ivy house looks like something out of a horror film(Image credit: Higgins Drysdale)
Visiting the property is not allowed due to its overgrown nature(Image credit: Higgins Drysdale)
Due to the ivy blocking visitors the interiors have been left to rot leaving the home to have a dark, creepy aura straight out of horror film.
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From peeling wallpaper to a crumbling structure the home requires major work to get it into working order and the home also doesn't include working utilities.
The ivy has also blocked lighting into the property, intensifying the disconcerting atmosphere.
How did the house become so overgrown?
According to the estate agents, Higgins Drysdale, the house has not been lived in for 44 years after the home was rented to two men who disappeared.
One local told the StokeonTrentLive: "The last lady to live there died in 1980 and is buried in the churchyard. She rented it to two bachelors. But I haven't seen them for ages, they used to attend church."
Another neighbour who lives opposite the engulfed home: "We know it's there. We moved to the village 27 years ago, and it's been like that since we moved here. So, a long time. At least 27 years. More because it was overgrown then."
How to buy the property
The property is to be sold by public auction on Friday 21 June 2024 via a 2-hour online bidding window with a guide price of £140,000 and minimum opening bid of £120,000.
News Editor Joseph has previously written for Today’s Media and Chambers & Partners, focusing on news for conveyancers and industry professionals. Joseph has just started his own self build project, building his own home on his family’s farm with planning permission for a timber frame, three-bedroom house in a one-acre field. The foundation work has already begun and he hopes to have the home built in the next year. Prior to this he renovated his family's home as well as doing several DIY projects, including installing a shower, building sheds, and livestock fences and shelters for the farm’s animals. Outside of homebuilding, Joseph loves rugby and has written for Rugby World, the world’s largest rugby magazine.
