A West Norfolk pensioner has come up with a solution to downsizing - he's divided his home in half
Ken Hill, 82, from King's Lynn, decided to literally divide his home into two instead of moving to a smaller property.
Mr Hill, who lives in a former feed mill in the historic quarter of King's Lynn which he bought in 1975, decided to downsize after his wife Jean passed away. He said: 'I converted the house into two, two-bedroom flats. I live in one and have let the other. I am still among friends and neighbours I have known for years. It was complex – employing an architect, dividing water, electricity and gas services, installing new staircases, getting planning permission and listed building consent and finding and managing builders.'
Mr Hill originally came to Norfolk from London to work and he fell in love with the three storey derelict building with a warehouse and former stables, in a line of period houses close to the quay on King's Staithe Square. 'I used to come from work and eat my sandwiches at lunchtime dreaming about what I would do with it,' he said. Mr Hill ended up buying the property for £5,300 but it was a major renovation project and after four years of work, he, his wife and their two children moved in. He continued doing up the rest of the house over the years. He said: 'It needed money. But in 1961 I had bought an old car for £135. Fifty years later I sold it for £41,000; well, it was a Lagonda.'
After his wife passed away, he realised he was living in a quirky home with a total of 10 rooms yet he felt he did not want to leave the vicinity to buy something smaller. So he set about designing the conversion and found the house, which in ancient times had been three separate dwellings, actually divided up fairly easily. Mr Hill's home now comprises a street entrance leading to a 45ft long garage space and upstairs, over a further two storeys, a large kitchen, sitting room, office and two-three bedrooms. The other flat is equally spacious and quirky in appearance, with two bedrooms, a large kitchen, living room and the extra benefit of a rooftop patio area overlooking the river. Mr Hill leases this flat to two tenants who love it so much, they are considering buying their half.
'There are possibilities opening up,' said Mr Hill. 'Such a conversion is not for everybody, but I recommend anyone left alone in a large house to think about it seriously.'
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