4 amazing property revamps in Warrington over the years

From a historic former railway being transformed into flats to a water tower being turned into an Airbnb, they are each unique.

One in particular was even described as an ‘iconic architectural gem’.

We decided to reshare some of the best ones:

Bewsey Old Hall

One of Warrington’s most historic buildings was turned into an apartment block.

Bewsey Old Hall has been occupied continuously for more than 750 years with the original parts of the building dating from the 13th and 17th century.

The house survived the Second World War but according to an account from the book the Millennium Scrapbook of Warrington, plenty of shrapnel fell as planes passed overhead. 

The unique listed building has been updated and refurbished a number of times over the years.

And in 2017, a two-bedroom ground floor apartment in the building was on sale - retaining many of the hall’s medieval features including ornate doorways, strong structural beams and exposed brick work throughout.

The apartment was on the market for £249,950.

Bewsey Old Hall

Former ‘Old Police Station’ on Liverpool Road, Great Sankey

After being transformed from a run-down, no longer fit for purpose police station, the former base for Great Sankey bobbies has now been converted into one of the area's self-proclaimed 'landmark buildings'.

In 2014, Estate agents Ashtons put the 'Old police station' on Liverpool Road up for sale following Penketh developer Steve Price, from ATM Landmark, snapping up the property the year before.

A large-scale refurbishment saw the building converted from eight receptions, two bathrooms and no bedrooms to a large kitchen with 'lantern roof', dining and living area, utility room, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, three reception rooms and garden.

Officers moved out in December 2012 after 104 years on the site to a new station on Meeting Lane, Penketh.

Cheshire Police said the move was necessary as staff changes had seen more officers join the neighbourhood unit in Sankey but there was no doubt that one or two officers who would be happy to move back to their old home after seeing the transformation.

The former police station in Great Sankey

Lymm Water Tower

An 'iconic architectural gem' and one of Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs' personal favourites are just some of the ways Lymm Water Tower has been described.

The award-winning home has also received rave reviews on Airbnb.

The online marketplace, which lets people rent out their spare rooms or entire homes to guests, has listed owners Russell and Jannette as 'super hosts' and adds guests will have access to a hot tub on the roof and a gym during their stay.

Jannette, who worked in the television industry, told the Warrington Guardia in 2019: "Our home has five stunning floors and a roof garden 100ft above the Cheshire countryside.

"Featured on TV, our historic landmark is situated up a quiet country lane with open countryside to the rear.

"Enjoy the privacy of your own penthouse suite, with private parking, use of the sauna, gym, and roof garden, complete with sun loungers, Japanese hot tub and 360° views."

One review said that the view from the property was ‘breathtaking’.

This Lymm property was a Grand Designs favourite

The Cheshire Lines building

The historic former railway yard in the town centre sat empty for decades before it was bought and turned into 62 one and two-bedroom flats.

Cheshire Lines was built in 1882 and is praised in the Pevsner architectural guide to the north west as an impressively foursquare, polychromatic brick warehouse'.

The central train yard was retained as a long foyer with a huge 17 metre (53ft) high roof.

Large steel girders still flank the main entrance.

In 2006, prices for the single-bed flats started at £128,950, and the two-bed duplexes at £170,000.

The flats were originally sold to Dublin-based agents Profile Properties, but they resold them in 2006.

Developers David McLean built a further four apartment blocks around the site and numerous development ideas, including offices, a restaurant and a nightclub, had been proposed for the building but were never acted upon.