WILLIAM Wordsworth’s old school has been transformed — and the opulent pad which cost more than £1million to create is proving a big hit with visitors to Cockermouth.

The listed Saints Room, off Kirkgate, has been turned into luxurious holiday accommodation for 18 people. A weekend stay will cost up to £1,800 a night. July and August is almost fully booked.

The stunning transformation includes chandeliers made in France using Venetian crystal, custom-made couches from Italy, tiles from Spain and marble from Oman. There is also a state-of-the-art spa and bar.

The building was bought at auction by Jerry Huppert, of Manchester, and his business partner David Salzman, who paid £158,000 for it at auction in 2018. It was previously owned by nearby All Saints’ Church, which sold the building to raise vital funds.

Jerry, a property developer, said: “The whole thing has cost £1.25m, including the purchase price.

“I went a bit over a budget — in for a penny in for a pound — I got carried away.

“In my wildest dreams, I didn’t think it would look this nice.”

He said: “I wanted to retain some of the heritage of the building in keeping with the area but put a very modern twist on it.

“We will be opening early July, but since advertising it online there has been an unbelievable response. It’s so exciting to see the end result and people appreciating it.”

People from all over the country and also abroad are booking, he said.

“Smaller events companies are booking it for hen and stag dos.

“Cockermouth is an under appreciated and under marketed area of the Lake District and I wanted to share it with others,” he said.

When he first bought the building, Jerry did television shoots with Homes under the Hammer and Grand Designs.

“They’re planning to do more now the work is completed,” he said.