A historic Wirral home has come on the market for £1.25million - and it has a tragic hidden link to the shipping company which launched the Titanic.
Thomas Henry Ismay, who founded the White Star Line, owned this grand clock tower, which is now a luxury six-bedroom Thurstaston home with sprawling private grounds.
Now on the market with Jackson-Stops estate agents, this Grade II listed property offers house hunters with deep pockets the chance to own a real piece of history.
This historic clock tower once formed part of the prestigious Dawpool Estate, which was bought by Thomas Ismay in 1877.
The original Dawpool Hall was demolished by Thomas Ismay, who commissioned architect Richard Norman Shaw to design and oversee the construction of a new hall.
The clock tower was also the vision of Shaw and was built in 1892 comprising a vast stable block and carriage house.
Although he founded the White Star Line , Thomas Ismay died before the Titanic launched - but his son Joseph Bruce Ismay was aboard the ship's doomed maiden voyage and survived the disaster.
The tower which was once owned by Ismay will be going on the market for the first time in over half a century - having been acquired from the Dawpool Estate around 1960 by the current owners, who converted the property into a family home.
It has has remained in their ownership ever since - and retains a number of stunning original features.
Boasting six bedrooms, with a guide price of £1,250,000, the property is described on RightMove as an 'important and architecturally impressive Grade II Listed property'.
The property is made up of a family home with an attached annexe, all nestled in a secluded and sleepy setting above the Dee Estuary.
The main house is situated in the clock tower building, with the kitchen, dining room, drawing room, bathroom, playroom and room for four bedrooms.
In the annexe is a further sitting room, breakfast room, kitchenette and two further bedrooms - making it the ideal opportunity for an AirBnB or rental apartment.
Outside, the luxury property has a triple garage and stabling, a saddle room, workshop, coal store and two outside toilets.
The property is also set in stunning, rolling grounds - with lawned gardens and a paddock all within around one acre of private land.
A listing on property website RightMove says that under the current owners, plans have been approved to convert the clock tower into four separate dwellings, but never implemented.
It adds: "Likewise there is scope to extend the existing living accommodation within the stables and outbuildings to provide a larger family home subject to the availability of planning permission.
"Such a scheme could also include the creation of a leisure complex with swimming pool, cinema room and gym within the garaging and basement below, which would have the added benefit of overlooking the large lawned garden."
