Property: Three To View: In the Money

PENNY COTTAGE in Pleshey, Essex, is about 200 years old but got its name as recently as 1972 when, during renovation, a 19th-century penny was found.

The three-bedroom house has a split personality. From the street it looks like the other period houses in the village, but the addition at the back includes a covered porch and redbrick-based bay window. Grade II listed, the cottage has an oak stripped floor in the sitting room, refitted 17'9" kitchen with limed-oak units, Neff oven and hob, and a detached double garage with a stairway to an 18ft office above. Offers around pounds 185,000, details from Trembath Welch (01371 872117).

THIS HALF-timbered period house in The Mint, in Rye, East Sussex, is in the middle of the ancient Cinque Port town. From the panelled oak front door, walk into the 20ft drawing room with a ceiling height of around 8'6", heavy timber framing and an African slate floor.

There is a 20ft dining kitchen with full-height diamond-leaded doors to the rear terrace and gardens, wine shelves and white tiled surfaces. There are two bedrooms, study (with access to a roof garden) and a bathroom on the first floor, with the main bedroom on the second. Offers around pounds 230,000 to Phillips & Stubbs (01797 253323).

THIS STONE cottage in West Bank, Winster, 15 minutes' drive from Matlock in the Peak District, has had considerable renovation work done, but needs finishing off. Formerly two houses, it now has three bedrooms, the biggest of which has an original open fireplace with cast-iron hearth, dining room with a white Rayburn, and bathroom with Victorian bath with ball- and-claw feet. There are stone outhouses, a garage and a workshop. pounds 125,000, details from Fidler-Taylor (01629 814040).