Historic farmhouse with all mod-cons

Thorn Tree Farm, Norwood Green £850,000 www.danielandhirst.co.uk

If your heart’s desire is a pictureperfect historic home full of period features but with all mod cons, then Thorn Tree Farm ticks all the boxes.

Stephen and Jane Oakes bought the Grade II listed house nine years ago.

Stephen says: “Jane had first seen the property in 1982 but I had declined to go and look at it then. We had two young children and we decided to buy a large Victorian house.

“We saw Thorn Tree Farm again in 2011 and at that time we were living in our newly-built, neo-Georgian property, which we then decided to sell, as the lure of this medieval house was overwhelming.”

The location in a village, near Halfax, was also deemed perfect. “We had always liked the lovely village of Norwood Green with its beautiful little pub, the Olde White Beare, and there lots of super walks from the centre of the village,” says Jane.

The couple have carried out a sensitive renovation and update of the property and engaged local architect Richard Palliser to guide them through the process.

In the main house, they uncovered the beautiful oak structure, added insulation, installed underfloor heating and replumbed and rewired.

Stephen says: “Our best decision was to lime plaster all the walls, which has enabled the thick stone walls to breathe, and has also helped to highlight the feature oak woodwork and the original timber frame. This lime plastering work was done superbly by

Ornate Interiors of Leeds, who have done a most sympathetic job. They are renowned for their work in churches and cathedrals throughout the UK.”

Outside, the garden was redesigned by landscape architect Richard Easton as three “rooms” with bird and bee-loving plants.

“We have loved living here at Thorn Tree Farm. It is such a cosy house, overlooking an enclosed south facing garden. However, we have now decided to sell as we are both intending to retire from our respective jobs later this year, and we will then look for further adventures,” says Jane.

The house has an entrance porch, sitting room, dining room, study, cloakroom, pantry, living kitchen and laundry. The first floor has a sitting room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Outside is a garden, garage, outbuildings and a barn plus mistals with permission to convert to ensuite bedrooms.