The exterior of the building shows that upstairs appears to be the same dimensions as the ground floor, with the porch area now part of the sandstone tower rising up through the building. From the ground floor hall, the staircase is a single flight up to the second level. It finishes on the right hand side and meets the second floor where it is possible to access all rooms from this location. As this is an internal staircase, there is no landing window at the end of the building so as is the norm in older houses, a window in the roof is there for maximum light. From the second floor, we walk down the landing in to the floor of the tower. Here is a well-lit room due to the main window facing from the front of the building. The room is L shaped and it is possible to walk through from this room to the next room which is in the left hand corner of the building, above the small room which is downstairs to the left of the porch.

bedroom no 1

the central tower

the landing area

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upstairs beams

There is a side door from the left hand side room which leads in to the main back bedroom. Here is a room of good size which matches the footprint of the room downstairs. Three large windows let the natural light in to this room, and although not as grand as the windows downstairs, they are of good proportion. A fireplace sits on the right hand side of the room which has a door either side to adjacent rooms, perhaps leading to a private bathroom. There is still a high ceiling to the bedroom and it is very spacious in overall dimension.

roof area

missing staircase

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Crossing the landing from the rear rooms to the front room, here again is a very large bedroom with the same size dimension as the front room below. At the far external wall is a fireplace to heat the room and a view from the 3 large front windows allows a view across the road and beyond. Here is a room with high ceilings and beautiful cornice in area's of the room. The painted plaster work on the wall is fresh and this appears to be the main bedroom commanding such glorious views. Leading off this room is a smaller room to the side of the property, as a bathroom.

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external wall

bedroom fireplace

missing floors

above the alcoves

Although it is not possible to get to the second floor due to the absence of stairs in the property, it is plain to see that most of the rooms are in a very poor state. Missing roof space to the right hand side of the property is damaging all the woodwork for the ceiling, or at least what is left of the ceiling and most of the ceiling on both floors disappeared when the building was fire damaged. It is still possible to get an idea of the upstairs rooms as they appear to mirror the size of the downstairs rooms and are large in proportion. How splendid it would have been to take a view from the finished Master bedroom when first built to see very little built up in the surrounding area.

location

SANDFIELD TOWER

THE HOME OF JOSEPH EDWARDS

overview

My name is Jonathon Wild. I am a Local Historian based in South Liverpool. My first association with Sandfield Tower was by chance. Being stuck in a traffic jam a good few years back and only noticing the building at the side set back from the road. It was derelict back then too,but had a mystery about why it was left there in such a built up area and I had to find out more - and see inside! With help from the local Record Office, and past history of the area, I began to piece together the history of the building and the reasons for it now being empty. If you have information on Sandfield Tower (which has many names - Sandfield Tower, Sandfield - The Tower, Gwalia) then please contact me via the contact page.

Central Drive, Sandfield Park

built

1851

LISTED

Grade II

features

A grand Grade II listed building set in the corner of Sandfield Park. Used as a private villa and later as a private church, it has extensive grounds outside the property, 3 large reception rooms, spacious entrance hall, 6 bedrooms with a further two attic rooms and a large tower rising through the centre of the building. A historical gem that needs to be preserved and protected!