Bracewell farmhouse is the best in class
Old Crook Carr Farm, Bracewell Price: £1.475m www.dacres.co.uk
This stunning home in the village of Bracewell, near Gisburn and Skipton, is one of the most impressive properties in the area, but 30 years ago it was a very different story.
Back then it was a derelict farmhouse with unfulfilled potential. It was Julie Harper and her husband who saw what it could become.
“We were driving past and thought ‘that could be a wonderful place to live’. It has the most beautiful position fronted by fields and it’s not overlooked but it’s not isolated because there are neighbours,” says Julie, who followed her heart, observed the mantra “location, location, location,” and bought the property.
Over the years the Harpers have turned the old farmhouse into a fabulous 5,500 square foot home with interiors that are a clever blend of traditional and contemporary styles. The couple have invested heavily in quality and their attention to detail is remarkable.
“We’ve developed it over the years and the facilities we have now made it a great place to be during lockdown,” Julie, who is referring to the garden, equestrian facilities, cinema room and to the indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi, which are housed in a single-storey building linked to the main house. It has glazed, bifold doors that lead out onto a sun terrace.
“I had always wanted a pool that brought the outside in and it is a lovely place to be,” says Julie, who keeps horses and had stables built from stone.
Inside, along with the existing period features, there is a historic staircase, panelling and balcony that the Harpers sourced from an old house in the Lake District. They also commissioned three carved fireplaces made by craftsmen joiners.
After putting heart and soul into the house, the couple are selling to downsize now their children have grown up.
“We have loved living here and we just hope the next owners will love it as much as we have,” says Julie.
The house has a gated driveway, a hall, two sitting rooms, a dining kitchen, utility kitchen, shower room and sauna, cinema room, pool and jacuzzi and five large bedrooms, four of which have ensuites.
Outside, there is garaging along with parking for several vehicles. There is also a stone-built kennel plus the stables, a ménage and a paddock.