Lichfield couple who built their own Tudor home for 200k

Ray and Michele Blundell built their Elizabethan-style home in Lichfield, Staffordshire entirely from scratch Both had come out of divorces when they embarked on the ambitious project in 1998, buying a third-of-an-acre plot The couple spent 90,000 on the land and spent next two-and-a-half years living in a static caravan on the site They taught themselves key building skills and spent 110,000 on building costs as their dream home took shape The home, which includes an oak frame, low ceilings and a spectacular garden, is now worth more than 600,000

By Harry Mount for the Daily Mail

Published: 18:20 EST, 12 November 2014 | Updated: 03:33 EST, 13 November 2014

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Walk past Ray and Michele Blundells home near Lichfield in Staffordshire, and you might think you had stepped back 450 years.

It is in the classic, half-timbered, Elizabethan style - built on an oak frame, with an ancient tiled roof, and the first floor teetering over the ground floor.

In fact, the cottage is only 14 years old. Whats more, the Blundells built the whole thing from scratch, teaching themselves plumbing, electrical wiring and medieval carpentry into the bargain.

Oh, and they also carved a majestic garden out of a dreary third-of-an-acre plot, which had only three plum trees and a lawn when they bought it. And all for only 200,000.

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Lichfield couple who built their own Tudor home for 200k