Advertisement
Australia markets closed
  • ALL ORDS

    8,153.70
    +80.10 (+0.99%)
     
  • ASX 200

    7,896.90
    +77.30 (+0.99%)
     
  • AUD/USD

    0.6520
    -0.0015 (-0.23%)
     
  • OIL

    82.77
    +1.42 (+1.75%)
     
  • GOLD

    2,239.20
    +26.50 (+1.20%)
     
  • Bitcoin AUD

    108,453.04
    +2,432.91 (+2.29%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • AUD/EUR

    0.6036
    +0.0006 (+0.10%)
     
  • AUD/NZD

    1.0901
    +0.0021 (+0.20%)
     
  • NZX 50

    12,105.29
    +94.63 (+0.79%)
     
  • NASDAQ

    18,245.00
    -35.85 (-0.20%)
     
  • FTSE

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • Dow Jones

    39,760.76
    +0.68 (+0.00%)
     
  • DAX

    18,492.49
    +15.40 (+0.08%)
     
  • Hang Seng

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,168.07
    -594.66 (-1.46%)
     

World Book Day: Homes with libraries for bookworms

grand staircase
Libraries don't come much grander than this one at Wildernesse House (Grant Frazer)

With World Book Day upon us why not start the next chapter in your life by finding a home with a library of its own? Whether an apartment building, a historic house or alpine retreat, each of these properties comes with a dedicated space where you can indulge your love of literature and curl up with a good book.

1. Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway, £325,000

a library in a cottage
A dram of whisky, a flickering fire and a good book, I can think of no better way to while away a cold winter's day

This charming character-filled cottage has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a good-sized kitchen/breakfast room, a dining room, music room and a snug. The layout is rather quirky in that the property is entered through the library – fitted with a multi-fuel stove to keep you warm when reading – and the main bedroom’s walk-in wardrobe can only be accessed via its ensuite bathroom. Find out more from Yopa.

2. Wildernesse House, Sevenoaks, Kent, from £580,000

grand staircase
Wildernesse Hall has been converted into a series of luxury retirement apartments (Grant Frazer)

Lord Randolph Churchill, father of Sir Winston, and Mary, Princess Royal, sister of King George VI and an aunt of late Queen, are just two of illustrious guests who were entertained in the library of this grade II listed country house. The house has now been transformed into a luxury retirement development, consisting of 23 converted and 53 new-build apartments, alongside eight contemporary mews houses, and residents enjoy five-star hotel-style amenities. These include a health spa, restaurant, spa, 24 acres of grounds and the recently-restored library which has been curated by the local Sevenoaks Bookshop. Contact Elysian Residences.

3. Silverlake, Dorchester, Dorset, from £695,000

A community library inside a telephone box.
A community library inside a telephone box

Set in the heart of Thomas Hardy country, these four and five-bedroom sustainable houses form part of the high-end Silverlake second-home resort that’s built on a former sand quarry. Homeowners have access to an onsite spa and gym, tennis courts, a pizza shack, activity hub and a community book swap library in a repurposed classic red phone box. They won’t have any difficulty finding a quiet spot to sit and read as the houses are surrounded by lakes, forests and hundreds of acres of woodland and heathland. By Habitat First Group.

4. Bournoncle-Saint-Pierre, Haute-Loire, Auvergne, France, €954,000 (approx. £844,996)

The library in a converted monastery.
The library in a converted monastery

Monasteries aren’t normally described as cosy, but this one – which dates from the 12th century – has been so beautifully converted that it feels inviting rather than austere. It comprises two main buildings: a family house and a renovated coach house with a wine cellar, tower and garage. The family house includes six/ seven bedrooms, two huge entertaining areas, a playroom, office and an atmospheric first floor library with exposed beams and stonework. Get in touch with French Estate Agents.

A converted monastery with its own library.
A converted monastery with its own library

Read more: 10 romantic homes to fall for

5. Pasketson Hall, Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, £1.6m

The library at Pasketson Hall.
The library at Pasketson Hall (Behind The Lens Media Ltd)

It’s not quite a case of buy one, get one free, but Pasketston Hall is a substantial, five-bedroom grand country house that was built on to the side of an seven-bedroom 18th century farmhouse by a prominent local family between 1835 and 1855, giving a total of 12 bedrooms. There are three formal reception rooms, all with soaring ceilings and huge windows: a dining room opening onto an orangery, a drawing room and a library fitted with bespoke bookshelves and a wood burner. Available through Country Living Group.

ADVERTISEMENT

Read more: What sort of house £1m buys you around the UK

6. Riverview House, Brundall, Norwich, £1.75m

The coach house of this enormous home has been converted into an office/library.
The coach house of this enormous home has been converted into an office/library

Packed with period features, this handsome redbrick house is ideal if you have a big family and run a business from home. It includes six bedrooms, three bathrooms, drawing, dining and sitting rooms and a separate two-storey coach house with a meeting room, office and library with plenty of built-in shelving. Find out more from Strutt & Parker.

7. South Hay, Kingsley, Hampshire, £5m

South Hay in Hampshire was once owned by the travel writer HV Morton.
South Hay in Hampshire was once owned by the travel writer HV Morton

A happy ending’s on the cards for the buyer of this timber-framed country house, which dates from the Jacobean period and was owned by HV Morton, a travel writer, during the first half of the 20th century. In the 1930s he converted the large stone-built barn into a library and linked it to the house to create a separate wing. This is now a magnificent vaulted room that’s ideal for entertaining and family gatherings as well as its original purpose. From Hamptons.

HV Morton converted a large barn adjacent to the house into his own personal library.
HV Morton converted a large barn adjacent to the house into his own personal library (Peter Wright Photographer)

8. Grimaud, Cote d’Azur, France, €12m (approx. £10,664,722)

Modern architecture at its very best.
Modern architecture at its very best

The library in this cutting edge minimalist house is quite unlike anything you’re likely to have seen before, as it’s circular, freestanding and cocooned within a glass-sided wing, allowing light in through gaps in the shelves. The rest of the six-bedroom property – consisting of two villas – is equally impressive: it has sea views, indoor and outdoor living areas, a high-end kitchen, a cinema, wine cellar, a landscaped garden with a heated swimming pool and a helipad. Get in touch with Sotheby’s International Real Estate.

9. Kitzbühel,Tyrol, Austria, €25m (approx. £21,855,822)

a library inside a swiss ski chalet
Relax with a book after a strenuous day on the ski slopes (Christoph Vögele)

This vast chalet sits at the foot of the Hahnenkamm, renowned for its challenging Streif ski course, and is in walking distance of the slopes and town centre. Although classic in design, it’s about as lavish as chalets get, with seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms divided between a main house and a guest house. The rooms are characterised by Tyrolean craftsmanship featuring hand-planed antique stone, marble and clay floors, rustic timber throughout and heraldic bricks in the wine cellar. You’ll be able to unwind in the indoor pool and sauna, or get lost in a good book in the antique pine library. For sale via Engel & Volkers.

Watch: How much money do I need to buy a house?

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.