WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Homes Under The Hammer.
On a recent episode of Homes Under the Hammer, two buyers stumbled upon a remarkable piece of history tied to Winston Churchill and UFO investigations, after discovering a hidden time capsule within their new property.
The BBC daytime show featured a semi-detached period house located directly opposite Gillingham railway station. The spacious property boasts nine bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two reception rooms. It went under the hammer for £410,000 and was purchased just below the asking price by developer siblings Steve and Mark.
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Martin Roberts, the show’s host, highlighted a fascinating aspect of the house, noting, “Next door holds a treasure trove of historical documents about the house as previous owners discovered a time capsule.”
Presenter Tommy Walsh spoke with the brothers about their intriguing find. Mark explained, “These houses were built for the military, as was the train station opposite. Sir Henry Tizard was born in this property. He developed radar technology during the Second World War and was also the first person to conduct serious UFO studies on behalf of Sir Winston Churchill.”
Tommy suggested, “If he was born here, you could probably get one of those blue plaques.” Mark and Steve were already a step ahead. “We’ve spoken to the conservation officer and are hoping to apply for a blue plaque for the front of the property,” Mark revealed.
Later in the episode, Martin confirmed that permission had been granted: “Once the flats are finished, they will have something very unique as they’ve been granted permission for a blue plaque to commemorate Sir Henry Tizard.”
Initially aiming to convert the building into six apartments within a year, the developers secured approval for five units instead. After 11 months, construction is still underway. Property experts estimated that two-bedroom flats should rent for around £1,400 per month, while one-bedroom units could command approximately £1,250.
Steve confessed, “We’re hoping to achieve a little bit higher. The reason is we’re going for a high-end finish and aiming perhaps for the London market.”
Despite the challenges, the brothers remain positive. “It was definitely a good purchase. Seeing the transformation from what it was to what it is now, and knowing what it will become, is really rewarding.”
Homes Under the Hammer continues to air on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.