A family residing at the center of a roundabout, refusing countless offers to sell their home, has shared their story.
Living in the middle of a roundabout might seem unusual to many, but for one family, it’s home. Nestled within the Denbigh bypass in North Wales, the Howatsons have embraced this unique lifestyle for decades, steadfastly refusing to sell their property.
The house existed before the roundabout
The Howatsons moved into their bungalow 64 years ago.
At the time, there was no roundabout; the house was part of a quiet area.
In the late 1970s, plans were made to construct a bypass and roundabout in the area.
Rather than selling their home, the family chose to stay, and the roundabout was built around them.
By 1980, the bypass and roundabout were completed, encircling their property.
Life in the middle of a roundabout
Clwyd Howatson, 64, has spent most of his life in this home.
“We don’t have to worry about neighbors,” he said.
However, the location does get busy, especially when family, including grandchildren, visit.
Despite the unusual setting, the family has adapted to its unique circumstances.
Common questions about roundabout living
Visitors often ask how they access the house.
Clwyd explains that the driveway leads directly to the home, making it simple.
Another frequent question is whether living there is noisy.
“It’s not as loud as people think,” he shared.
Double-glazed windows help reduce noise, and peak traffic only occurs a few times a day.
Exiting the roundabout can sometimes be tricky, as drivers aren’t expecting a car to emerge from within it.
The family waits for quieter moments to safely leave their property.
Challenges with locating the home for deliveries
Delivery drivers often struggle to locate the home.
Many assume their navigation systems are incorrect when told the address is on the roundabout.
“Getting off the roundabout on the other hand can be a bit of a challenge. When people are on a roundabout they don’t expect someone to come out of the roundabout itself so we do get a few double-takes.
“It can be a bit awkward as well if someone lets you go because someone could be coming up on the other lane, but we don’t really have any issues with it, we just tend to wait until it’s a bit quieter which is most of the time.” the roundabout resident explained.
Clwyd joked about redirecting confused drivers who go to nearby houses.
They often tell drivers, “We’re not by the roundabout; we’re on it.”
Living on a roundabout might seem dangerous, but the Howatsons have avoided major accidents.
Clwyd recalled how, in the early days, some drivers mistakenly went the wrong way around the roundabout.
Fortunately, no serious crashes have occurred near their home.
The family has no plans to leave their unique home.
The Howatsons cherish their long-standing connection to the house.
“We’ve been here for generations and plan to stay,” Clwyd said.
While unconventional, their home on the roundabout is filled with history and family memories.
Would you consider living somewhere as unique as this? For the Howatsons, it’s simply life as usual.