Looking for somewhere a bit different to live? How about an old church?

The former St Laurence Church in Castle Road, Allington, (now known as St Laurence Lodge) is for sale through Simon Miller estate agents.

The original church on this site dated from before 1132 - a record of the rectors from that date onwards exists - though the church was largely rebuilt in the 1880s.

It was an appendage of Allington Manor.

Only one wall of the unbuttressed tower and its pointed doorway survive from the early medieval building, nevertheless the Grade II Listed property is full of character.

The sandstone church ceased to be used for services in 1969 and lay redundant for a while.

It was purchased by the present owner, John Mercer, and converted into residential accommodation in 1983.

Mr Mercer, 87, said: "The building was derelict when I bought it. There was a hole in the roof and a tramp sleeping in the porch.

"Children had lit fires on the stone floor and smashed out all the stained glass windows in the vestry and shot holes in the roof with their air guns.

"My wife and I sold our 11-roomed house in Plumstead in South East London to buy it.

"It took a year to make it habitable so we could move in and about a further six years to complete all the restoration.

"When we arrived there were many gravestones in the garden, but the Archbishop of Canterbury ordered that they be removed."

He said: "At my request they left just one: the headstone of a man who had been something of a local legend because of his extraordinary height. He was known as the Long Man of Kent. His grave is still here, though today its covered with nettles."

The building now offers a large open-plan living area with downstairs bathroom and kitchen.

Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a mezzanine lounge area.

The original floor memorial plaques from the church have been preserved, as have the ceiling beams and shaped stone windows.

It is on sale with an asking price of £750,000, to find out more call to 01622 850888.

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