Once home to the winch that heaved tons of goods on and off the railway, this is a house that's used to taking the strain.

Built around the end of the First World War, the Winch, at Canterbury, clung on to its industrial past when it was converted to a four-bedroom home in 1999.

Now on the the market with Humberts, with a guide price of £650,000, it is tucked away in a yard of similar buildings at Steam Packet Yard, North Lane.

Buyers will love 'industrial chic' style touches including exposed girders, sections of steel lattice which allow light to pass through the building and industrial style flooring to the ground floor.

A 15ft kitchen/dining room is a light and bright room, with a steel-topped central island.

Utility and cloakroom are also on this floor.

On the first floor is a 16ft sitting room with a section of steel lattice floor that gives open views into the kitchen below.

The sitting room is open to the floor above and makes the most of this with full-height book cases, complete with ladder.

A bedroom and a bathroom are also on the first floor and three bedrooms are on the top floor.

All of the bedrooms have built-in wardrobes.

In the heart of St Dunstan’s and with the trains at Canterbury West on the doorstep, the house comes with a large gravelled courtyard with private parking.

There’s even a detached double garage with a studio above.

Martin Jordan, of Humberts, says: "The property was originally built about 100 years ago and was associated with the Canterbury railway.

"It has been thoughtfully designed and converted from what was the old winch building and makes maximum use of space and light.

"The building oozes character, combined with contemporary style. Although well tucked away, the property is set close to the City Walls, not far from the last remaining West Gate, the pretty Westgate Gardens and also the historic Sudbury Tower.

"Unusually for a city centre property, there is ample parking offered by a gravelled courtyard area and the detached double garage."

For information ring 01227 452780

Converted barn could be worth a look