Despite falling in value by over £18,000 in the past year, the average price of an English ‘chocolate box’ cottage is still more than three times higher than the average uk home, new research shows.
According to Jackson-Stops & Staff, the average price of a cottage is £607,465, down from £625,553 last year.
This compares to a barn conversion at £889,925, an old rectory at £1,295,733, a farmhouse at £1,257,918 and a manor house at £1,427,292.
Cottages with a thatched roof will typically have cosy rooms, rustic beams, quaint features and date back to the 17th or 18th century.
However, they may not offer the best value for money.
The stereotypically roomier old rectory comes in at around £292 per square foot, while a farmhouse is priced at £312 per square foot.
Cottages are more expensive on this basis, at £320 per square foot.
Nick Leeming, Jackson-Stops & Staff Chairman, said: “English village living has always been an attractive prospect, with inhabitants benefiting from a real sense of community and features like village greens, pubs, churches and community centres.
“At the start of this year the Government announced a new wave of Garden Villages, featuring swathes of green spaces and local amenities – reiterating the enduring popularity of the accompanying lifestyle. This modern take on the village has in no way relegated the traditional set-up. As a result of this enduring popularity certain pivotal homes in the village including the manor house, the chocolate box cottage and the former rectory attract a premium.
“Manor houses boast both glamour and prestige as the focal point of village life, with spacious living accommodation matched by perfectly manicured grounds. Cottages were traditionally occupied by people perceived as the lowliest in the village, but this could not be further from the truth today.
“Cottages can be small but perfectly formed and prized for their beautiful thatching, exposed beams and traditional fire places. They tend to have very manageable gardens making them extremely popular with downsizers. This explains why they are so costly on a square footage basis.”
Avrage price of properties
Type of property |
Average property price (sale) | Typical features | Multiple of average UK property price (£218,000) | Average price per square foot |
| Barn conversion | £889,925 | – Large open plan spaces
– Modern interior – Plenty of light |
4.1 | £325 |
| Chocolate box cottage | £607,465 | – Three to four bedrooms
– Dating to 17th / 18th century – Thatched roof – Often listed |
2.8 | £320 |
| Farmhouse | £1,257,918 | – Plenty of land and extensive grounds
– Large living spaces – Private location |
5.8 | £312 |
| Old rectory | £1,295,733 | – Imposing exterior
– Central village location close to church – Spacious rooms and high ceilings |
5.9 | £292 |
| Manor house | £1,427,292 | – Apex of the village
– Large rooms and extensive property – Lots of land and attractive gardens – Private setting |
6.5 | £190 |
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