Concrete water tank is luxury holiday venue

The tank, which until a couple of years ago stored water for the village of Wensley, has now been transformed into a luxurious holiday home.

Owners Jim and Lisa Hardy completed the transformation of the half–buried tank just before Christmas and have now welcomed their first guests to Cambridge Lodge, newly christened after the nearby wood.

The tank was built in 1909, covered by an earth mound and accessed through manholes in the roof. The Hardys bought it a decade ago from Severn Trent Water.

Jim Hardy said: “At first we thought it might be useful for storage. We excavated the mound at one side to put in a door and then a couple of windows and eventually thought ‘some people might like to stay here’. There was no master plan, just a sketch on the back of an envelope.”

Cambridge Lodge can accommodate up to six people and has a kitchen diner, utility room, a twin bedroom and bathroom.

Stairs lead down into a large, part double–height living space with wooden floor, plus cosy reading and study area and two comfortable double bedrooms, one of which is ensuite.

“There’s central heating, WiFi, Smart TV with Netflix and everything you’d expect in a five-tick standard holiday home,” said Jim.

“Of course, there’s restricted headroom in a couple of places and it’s not really suitable for children under ten because the raised patio is unfenced.

“But it’s a unique place and it’s been great to get such enthusiastic feedback from our first visitors.”

The home is available from Sykes Cottages and costs from £386 to rent for a week. Visit www.SykesCottages.co.uk for more information.