Marsh Lane, Birmingham, B23 6PL

There are houses with space, and houses with character. Very few have a rhythm quite like this. Plus no onward chain! 

Life here changes with the hour. Mornings begin with tea in the kitchen as sunlight reaches through the window. On warmer afternoons, the living room provides a naturally cool retreat while the garden comes into its own. When winter arrives, the cast iron electric fireplace (staying in situ) draws everyone back inside and changes the atmosphere of an entire evening.

Nothing about the frontage quite prepares you for what follows. From the entrance, the sight line carries through towards the kitchen, immediately revealing the depth of the house and the exceptional ceiling height. Generous reception rooms create proper space for living, dining, working from home and entertaining, while the period proportions give them a character that cannot be found elsewhere.

The slightly elevated position makes the front bay window a particularly lovely place to sit. It offers a pleasant outlook over the street, allowing you to watch the world go by without feeling on display.

Then there is the feature nobody expects: an exceptional heated cellar transformed into a bar and games room. It is somewhere to relax after work, entertain friends and let an ordinary evening become a brilliant one. Summer food and drinks can begin outside before everyone naturally disappears downstairs. If Friday night were a room, this would be it.

There are three bedrooms, accompanied by a spacious family bathroom that feels sleek and contemporary without competing with the character around it. Above, an atmospheric loft conversion shapes the master bedroom and offers something completely unique, with incredible storage capabilities. Sunshine fills it during the day; after dark, moonlight through the Velux window creates a calm place to put on some music and switch off.

To the rear, the south-facing garden feels wonderfully secluded. Its lower seating area is made for morning tea, outdoor dinners and unhurried evenings with friends, while raspberries, cherries and apples add another small pleasure as the seasons change.

Erdington station is within walking distance, with Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Boldmere and Wylde Green all easily accessible. Pubs, cafés, shops and everyday amenities are close at hand, while Bleak Hill Park, Witton Lakes and Brookvale Park offer nearby space to walk and escape. Featherstone Primary School is also within easy reach.

In the Owner's Words
I sat down with the current owner to hear, in their own words, what it's really like living here.

What did you notice when you first walked in, and what still surprises visitors now?

It was the character that struck me first - the high ceilings, the big rooms, the light. That first impression has never really faded, and visitors get a version of it too. Even now, people are surprised by how much space is tucked behind the frontage; they come through the front door and you can see all the way through to the oven! The depth of the house reveals itself in one glance, and watching that penny drop for someone new is a moment I still love.

What does an ordinary day here actually look like for you?

Mornings always start in the kitchen - a cuppa, sunlight coming through the window, and that's the best part of waking up. Come summer, I'll drift through to the living room around lunchtime, because it stays lovely and cool even when it's baking outside. Evenings tend to end downstairs in the cellar bar and games room, winding all the way down. It's total relaxation after work - if Friday night were a room, this would be it!

What will you miss most when you leave?

The games room and bar, without a doubt! But really, it's the family memories and the little routines I'll miss the most - tea in the morning sunshine, moonlight in the master bedroom, rooms that never once felt cramped no matter how many people were in them. If I'm completely honest, though, it's the cellar I'll miss most of all. It's where I relax, where I entertain, where I properly switch off - a non-negotiable part of every day after work.

Which character details have you most enjoyed living with?

The front bay window is a real favourite. Because the house sits a little above street level, I sit there and watch the world go by. Beyond that, it's the high ceilings, the generous proportions and the huge reception rooms - the details that gave the house its character, and the sense of space I fell for in the first place.

How does living here change with the seasons?

Summer is all about the garden, while the living room stays surprisingly cool even on the hottest afternoons. Come the colder months, the electric fireplace I added changes the whole feel of the room. I love that the house doesn't just work for one season - different spaces come into their own at different times of year.

What is the house really like when you have friends or family over?

I love having people over here their first impression is always incredible to see and the lounge and dining room are big enough that nobody ever feels crowded, and on warm evenings everyone naturally drifts out into the garden for food and drinks. More often than not, the evening ends downstairs around the bar or in the games room - and that's usually what turns a good evening into a brilliant one!

What does the garden add to everyday life here?

The garden is where I properly slow down. There's a table and chairs on the lower level, where I'll have my morning tea, eat outside on warm evenings, or host a BBQ with friends. It feels wonderfully secluded, gets plenty of sunshine, and even gives us raspberries, cherries and apples throughout the year - so it takes on a slightly different character with every season.

Which parts of the location make everyday life easier or more enjoyable?

Selfishly, I am very close to work here, but being close to my family in Wylde Green mattered a lot when I bought the house, and that hasn't changed. Erdington station is an easy walk away for trains into Birmingham, Boldmere is close by for pubs, cafés and shops, and when I want some green space there's Bleak Hill Park, Witton Lakes or Brookvale Park to choose from. Day-to-day life here has always felt genuinely convenient. My friends and I aim to try a new curry house every Monday evening!

Which part of the house feels most personal to you?

The master bedroom, hands down! At night, moonlight comes through the roof window and gives the whole space a completely different atmosphere. I'll lie back, headphones on, window left open, and just soak it in. It catches lovely sun during the day too, but night-time is when it really becomes mine.

I cannot wait to show you around!!