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Thunderbirds-inspired house sells for £375,000

Ariana BoteroSouth of England
News imageBTG Eddisons Property Auctions A composite of four pictures, from top L-R clockwise: A swimming pool with a blue rocket next to it, an underground tunnel, a room with blue and yellow checkered flooring, and stairs leading down to a basement BTG Eddisons Property Auctions
The house in Tilehurst, Berkshire, has a network of hand dug tunnels

A house with an "extensive" network of tunnels, rooms and a railway more than 50ft (15m) underground has been sold at auction for £375,000.

The property in Long Lane, Tilehurst, was inspired by Tracy Island, the secret headquarters featured in 1960s TV series Thunderbirds.

Beginning more than two decades ago, the tunnels were the passion-project of civil engineer Tony Deane.

The site also features a garden, swimming pool, workshop and a model space rocket in the garden measuring at about 23ft (7m) tall.

There are now plans to convert the 2,500 sq ft (232.2 sq m) workshop, which spans three floors, into a three-bedroom house.

Richard Worrall, auctioneer and consultant at BTG Eddisons Property Auctions, said: "It represents a really unique opportunity for somebody to either develop it or to live there and enjoy it.

"To say it's a workshop is doing it down a little bit, it's constructed better than 95% of houses, to be honest."

News imageBTG Eddisons Property Auctions A tunnel with a narrow passageway with a light on the wall on the left BTG Eddisons Property Auctions
News imageBTG Eddisons Property Auctions Spiral stairs leading down to a basement BTG Eddisons Property Auctions
The subterranean network descends through four levels
The late Tony Deane had a passion for tunnelling

West Berkshire Council also granted planning consent in December 2024 for a 5,000 sq ft (464.5 sq m) five-bedroom, two-storey house to be built on the site of the swimming pool.

Before the sale, Worrall said: "I think by its very nature it is going to attract a lot of interest from people who have got an idea of what they might want to use the tunnelling network for.

"Whether they be preppers, or people who've got sensitive material they want to keep below ground, it keeps a constant temperature down there and would make a fantastic wine cellar.

"The options are kind of endless."

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