One of Britain’s most historic homes has gone on sale for just £17,000 – but there’s a rather large catch.
It has no roof.
Ty Du is now a crumbling ruin hidden among trees and foliage, without a proper floor and exposed to the elements.
READ MORE: Britain’s Barbie Dream House goes up for sale at £725,000
But behind its battered walls lies centuries of extraordinary history involving a banished bishop, a legendary strongman and the spooky death of a celebrated poet.
The property, in the foothills of Snowdon in Llanberis, North Wales, forms part of a half-acre plot containing the remains of several cottages, a smithy and a former shop.
Despite its ruined state, Ty Du is listed in the Inventory of the Royal Commission, as reported by Luxury Property News.
It is thought to have begun life as a medieval platform house in the 13th century before being rebuilt as a two-storey home in the early 17th century.
One of its most famous residents was Geoffrey Goodman, who became Bishop of Gloucester in 1625.
The court preacher is said to have been chaplain to Queen Anne, wife of King James I.
But his Catholic sympathies landed him in trouble and he was imprisoned in the Tower of London for four months.
After further spells behind bars and losing much of his property and land, Goodman took refuge at Ty Du between 1643 and 1647.
The cottage was later home to a man named Yates, who was regarded as north Wales’ strongest man.
During the 19th century, it became the birthplace of poet and minister David Hugh Jones, known as Dewi Arfon.
Jones later returned to Ty Du after falling ill and died there on Christmas Day in 1869.
His eerie death has since become part of the property’s folklore.
Jones is said to have called out to his sister sometime between 5am and 6am and asked her to set an alarm clock to strike at 9am.
At exactly 9am, he reportedly died.
Despite decades of exposure to the elements, a number of Ty Du’s original features remain.
Its fireplace with integrated oven, spiral staircase, graffiti, original window openings and front doorway have survived.
Historic roof beams and an A-frame have also been preserved by the current owner and are being stored at his home on Anglesey in case of a future restoration.
An ancient packhorse trail linking Llanberis with Caernarfon runs behind the property.
And its spectacular location could prove a major draw for anyone willing to take on the mammoth renovation.
Ty Du sits in a sheltered hollow in the foothills of Snowdon, with auction details claiming it is possible to walk from the property to the summit without crossing a public road.
The surrounding countryside also boasts woodland, mountains, lakes, rivers and historic sites.
The half-acre plot includes the remains of two cottages attached to Ty Du, another cottage ruin around 35 metres away, a derelict smithy and the remains of a small shop.
The property is being sold through an online auction by Auction House North Wales in collaboration with Dafydd Hardy estate agents in Caernarfon.
It has a guide price of just £17,000, with bidding running from Monday 28 September until Tuesday 29 September.
READ MORE: Bizarre house has TOILET in kitchen overlooking backyard
