Love at first sight for a gorgeous Georgian
The Manor House, Hurworth, Price: £1.4m www.struttandparker.com
Just one look, that’s all it took for John and Anne Fulton to fall in love with The Manor House.
“We didn’t even look inside initially. We just knew we wanted to buy it because there is nothing else like it in the area. It is by the village green but set back so it is quiet and hidden away,” says Mr Fulton, who bought the property 41 years ago.
Back then the Grade II listed Georgian house, which is close to the Yorkshire border, was in need of work but has since benefited from a sensitive restoration informed by an archive of old photographs.
“When we bought the property, a reporter had cleared out the archives at the local newspaper he worked for and found some 19th century pictures of this house taken by one of Britain’s first female photographers. He gave them to us and we used them to help us with the restoration,” says Mr Fulton, who has since given the album to a local museum on longterm loan.
The gardens too have benefited from the Fultons considerable efforts with the standout feature being the natural swimming pond.
The wisteria clad house is for sale as the couple plan to downsize. It has been meticulously maintained over the years and retains much of its original charm and character including sash windows, cast iron radiators, feature fireplaces, panelled walls and decorative ceilings.
The light-filled property has a porch, hallway with guest
WC, a formal dining room with three floor-to-ceiling windows, a drawing room and a generous breakfast kitchen with gas AGA.
The ground floor also has a utility room, larder, boot room, wood store and WC, along with a study and a magnificent snooker room which has hand painted walls and ceiling. There is also an orangery which overlooks the gardens and tennis court.
The first floor has three double bedrooms, a dressing room and two bathrooms. The second floor has four double bedrooms and a shower room.
Outside, there is extensive parking and a courtyard with a two-storey self-contained, twobedroom annexe. Along with gardens, there is an all-weather tennis court, a natural swimming pond and a terrace.
Hurworth on Tees is one of the most sought after villages in the district with good schools, shop, fine dining pub and Rockcliffe Hall Hotel and golf course.