Harry Potter mania builds for the last time in Brentwood
With the final, eagerly awaited Harry Potter film due to hit cinemas this Friday (15th July) the gothic splendour of Hogwarts Castle will be dominating our screens once again.
The magnificent castle is an architectural gem, with towers, turrets and spires providing a fine example of Gothic style, and will surely leave many viewers looking for their own type of Hogwarts-inspired home. Whilst the final film whips fans into a frenzy, City & Country Group are providing a brilliant opportunity for Harry Potter enthusiasts to purchase their own version of a Hogwarts home, with some of the final properties available at their popular Essex development, The Galleries, in Brentwood.
The distinctive Grade II Listed buildings at The Galleries boast an impressive array of Victorian Gothic architecture, similar to that of Alnwick Castle; best known as the location for Hogwarts, the School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, which Harry attends. Having been transformed by City & Country Group into a landmark residential development, painstaking restoration has uncovered several gothic features at The Galleries, including decorative stonework, figurative carvings and gothic arched windows, which have all been kept and combined with contemporary architectural restoration. The development has been incredibly popular with a range of buyers since it first launched in [please confirm] and the remaining [please confirm] phases of homes available at The Galleries are the last chance for prospective purchasers to own a home of such impressive historic architecture.
First opening its doors in 1853 as a convalescent hospital, The Galleries boasts magnificent cloisters, which are particularly reminiscent of Hogwarts and surround the beautifully landscaped courtyard gardens, designed for all residents to enjoy. In Harry Potter, cloisters were used as the corridors of Hogwarts and were the setting for ghost scenes. The talking pictures in The Philosopher’s Stone, and the overflowing bathrooms in the Chamber of Secrets were also filmed in the cloisters.
Remarkably similar in gothic style, is the omnipresent Clock Tower at Hogwarts, and The Galleries very own imposing Clock Tower. The prestigious Clock Tower is a landmark of The Galleries, and all of the apartments within it boast an abundance of distinctive architectural features, which have been restored and integrated to provide the ultimate in modern living within a traditional setting. The unusual spaces and range of unique features genuinely sets the apartments in The Clock Tower apart from other schemes currently available on the market.
The distinctive Grade II Listed Victorian Gothic buildings at The Galleries have been converted into a collection of 100 high quality apartments and unique homes, the final selection of which are on sale now. Each has had a bespoke kitchen designed and includes a range of integrated stainless steel appliances and the bathrooms incorporate white sanitaryware and chrome fittings. Throughout the properties, top quality flooring has been provided including 100% wool carpets, ceramic floor tiles and either engineered oak boards or restored original floorboards and parquet.
Conveniently located on the outskirts of the bustling town of Brentwood, in Essex, The Galleries properties offer a quiet oasis close to the diverse selection of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops on the high street, as well as the 400-acre country forest at the edge of the town. Brentwood station is just a short walk from the development, offering a direct commute into London Liverpool Street of just over half an hour, and to the infamous Platform 9 and ¾ at London Kings Cross of only an hour.
David Walker, Managing Director at City & Country Group Residential, comments: “With the Harry Potter series having captured the imagination of millions of fans around the world, the gothic architecture of Hogwarts has been seen and admired by many. At The Galleries we have worked hard to fuse the beautiful gothic architecture of the Victorian buildings, with the best in contemporary design. We find that the combination of traditional craftsmanship and high-quality, modern specifications attracts a wide range of buyers looking for a beautiful home with a difference. The homes at the development have been consistently popular and we expect the final few phases of properties to be released at the site over the coming months to follow suit, so we urge potential buyers to arrange a viewing quickly to avoid disappointment.”
Prices at The Galleries start from £217,500 for a one bedroom apartment, £295,000 for a two bedroom apartment and £375,000 for a two bedroom house. For those keen to find out more about purchasing a property at The Galleries, the on-site sales suite is open daily between 10am and 5pm.
