Tiny terrace house hides massive vaulted mosaic cave that was chiselled by hand

03 February 2024 , 13:00

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Dracups Cottage from the outside (Image: PA)

From the outside, it appears to be a small terrace house, no different to thousands of others. But this unassuming home in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, hides an incredible secret.

It was once the home of artist Antony Dracup, who spent years transforming it from a traditional terrace into something far more interesting.

Dracups Cottage boasts two bedrooms, a living room and a galley kitchen. But walk further into the home and you'll discover a massive sandstone cave, complete with vaulted ceilings, ornate pillars and tile mosaics.

And Antony didn't stop there. He also created stunning landscaped gardens, a roof terrace, an attic room and a bathroom.

The little house hides a surprising secret (PA)

Antony Dracup spent years transforming the property (PA)

What's more, the determined artist completed many of his cave excavations by hand. His son, Dennis, explained: "Every house that he took up residence in received the Dracup treatment – arches, pillars, balustrades, moulding, marbling, graining, varnishing, stained-glass all designed and crafted from start to finish by his hand.

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"In true Colditz style – a little every day, but persistently – he chiselled away. His persistence was rewarded with noticeably stronger chest muscles and extra living space."

Antony sadly died in 2002 when he was 72. He used the sandstone caves that are common in the area he lived in in Shropshire for his inspiration for the adjustments to his home.

The caves had previously been used as a place for young people to socialise but now form part of this unusual property. After moving into the home in the 1980s, Antony worked tirelessly to transform it.

The huge cave structure now makes up half the size of the property and he also levelled parts of the home to create ever bigger living spaces.

But his first job was to sound-proof his house using an extra layer of bricks before he set about chiselling away at the cave that was originally in part of the garden.

Subsequent owners have stayed true to the artist's vision (PA)

The property went on the market in 2016 for £200,000 (PA)

His son says on a website dedicated to his father's work: "By way of a ladder it was possible to access the four levels of terracing, oddly and asymmetrically designed so as to fully involve the climber in the experience -you daren't put a foot wrong here.

"Cast concrete, decorative features and moulding shared the daylight with lettuce, tomatoes, an apple tree and much other edible produce.

"A vertical kitchen-garden which, to my father's delight, was once mistaken for a Roman Ruin in a local aerial survey."

Following Antony's death, all the subsequent owners have stayed true to his vision, keeping his stunning cave and all the intricate touches he had added.

And when the property was put on the market in 2016 it had an asking price of just under £200,000. The estate agents said at the time: "It is unbelievable really to think that he excavated much of the cave by hand.

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"The house is full of his artwork, there are hand drawn walls and the near vertical garden, it is really incredible. He's added 650sq ft of liveable space and it really adds something to the property, it is a beautiful living and dining area, great for entertaining."

Gemma Strong