Always fancied yourself as a bit of an Oddjob? Something of an Ernst Stavro Blofeld? Well, this could be your dream property. A huge Grade II-listed sea fort, straight out of a Bond movie, has just hit the market – and it could be yours for just £50,000.
Three miles off the coast of Hull, Bull Sandfort was built during World War I and for decades guarded the approaches to the Humber with an immense artillery of gun batteries and an anti-submarine defence system. It was decommissioned in 1956 and has sat empty ever since.
Set over three floors, with a basement below sea level and two-storey observation tower, the fort was originally intended to provide accommodation for a garrison of 200 men. The exterior is wrapped in 12 inches of bullet-proof steel armour designed to withstand gunfire.
Dr Robb Robinson, an honorary research fellow at the University of Hull, said the British Navy commissioned the fort in late 1914, after Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby had all been attacked by a German fleet. ‘The Humber was exposed so the idea was to provide more defences,’ Robinson told the BBC.
A spokesperson from Savills, the estate agent, said that the fort would need a complete overhaul and serious refurbishment for it to become a functioning building again. And if you are tempted to snap the place up? You may need to ditch the car, as it’s only accessible via private boat or helicopter.
You can see the full property listing and book a viewing here.
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