This Surprisingly Roomy Double-Decker Houseboat Can Be Yours for £400K
After years of traveling the English canal connecting Leeds to Liverpool, this 1940s coal barge is enjoying retirement as a charming, two-story floating home thanks to a complete overhaul by its current owners.
This coal barge-turned-houseboat is docked in the coastal town of Gosport on England's southern coast. Portsmouth is quick, four-minute ferry ride away, where trains to London and other parts of the southern coast are easily accessible.
Featuring 1,250 square feet of interior space, the houseboat offers three bedrooms; a large, open floor plan; and a seaside deck. Currently docked in Gosport, England, the houseboat shares the waterways with many important vessels docked just across the harbor at the Portsmouth historic dockyard. Other historic sites are also nearby, including King Henry VIII’s South Sea Castle, built in 1544—where he watched his own Tutor Navy’s warship, The Mary Rose, sink while fending off a French invasion a year later.
Once inside the main entrance, a long hallway leads back to the living areas while stairs lead down to the home’s three bedrooms. Wooden flooring recovered from an 1860s Victorian school in Portsmouth lines both levels of the home.
The home features a handmade front door, crafted from wood reclaimed from Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight. On the main level, the kitchen, dining area, and living room effortlessly flow together, including out onto a spacious top deck with distant views of the third-century Portchester Castle.
A peek from the hallway, which opens up into the main living area. Along with lush greenery, reclaimed wood complements the home's crisp white palette.
The outdoor area—clad in Ekki decking that was reclaimed from a water tower in Liverpool—provides an idyllic setting for barbecuing thanks to the deck's attached grill.
Three bedrooms are located on the lower level, as well as a large master bathroom which features a full-size bathtub, separate shower, double sinks, and underfloor heating. Scroll ahead to see more inside this beautifully renovated houseboat, currently listed for £399,950 (about $514,250).
Clad with white weatherboard and iroko wood, the boat's hull was also fully restored, complete with specialist metal blasting inside and out. Large bi-fold doors open the family room up to indoor/outdoor living.
The chic, all-white kitchen boasts custom-designed cabinets and new, stainless-steel appliances. The arched ceiling and porthole windows are reminders of nautical living.
Downstairs, built-in shelving lines the starboard side, offering ample space for displaying books and memorabilia. The home's three bedrooms and full bathroom are accessible off the hallway.
A look at one of the three light-filled bedrooms, this one located in the bow of the boat. A custom-built bed offers additional storage.
Floral-patterned tiles line the master bath, complete with a full-size tub and separate shower. The surprisingly roomy space provides all the amenities of a traditional home.
In addition to secure car parking, the mooring lot also includes two storage buildings, both built by the current owners for additional storage space.
Liverpool 91 in Gosport is currently listed for £399,950 by Aucoot.
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