Friends call me gypsy because I live in a sewage treatment cave, but I have my own lake
A TRAVELER lives off-grid in a train carriage with a former sewage treatment tank – and he even has his own inland lake.
Reuben Leveridge’s stunning estate is located in the quiet village of Sea Palling on the north Norfolk coast.
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He created a family home for his two children from a restored Victorian railway carriage, combining his Romance roots and a permanent residence.
The wooden structure, made from driftwood found on the nearby beach after storms, forms a living area and a large veranda.
The bedrooms and kitchen can also be found in the 1890 third class train carriage.
The self-proclaimed ‘Eco-Gypsy’ explained: “An old boy was living in it with his family when they demolished his house.
“I then bought it and brought it here and I do the same.”
Their electricity comes from solar and wind energy and heating is provided by a wood stove.
The family also collects rainwater for drinking and all the furniture is second-hand.
Reuben carried out the project himself and had no fixed budget.
He said: “85 percent of everything here is ‘stolen’, skipped or washed up on the beach. It’s just a joke – not stolen!”
Reuben then turned his attention to converting a disused 1950s water treatment plant.
The site of his house was previously owned by Anglian Water and contained the structure.
The low, round brick building is accessed through a hobbit door and features a communal area.
Reuben calls his creation the uni-dome and it has a central pool with overflow from the gutters creating a water feature.
He said: “Here is the self-supporting and round roof of the house. This was a fun project to do.
“If the weather is really bad, you can light the wood stove and it’s a lovely space to hang out.”
As Ruben’s grandfather once said: “A real Roma adapts to the situation they find themselves in.”
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