Taking a leaf out of Charlotte’s book and spend some time in the library

including slatted blinds that don’t obscure the views but she travelled light when she moved from her previous home in Ilkley five years ago.

“I was looking for something bigger and more rural and as soon as I walked into this apartment and looked at the ornate ceiling that was it. I just thought: ‘I’ve got to live here’. I was gobsmacked at how much wow factor the place had,” says Sue, who runs Leedsbased businesses Tropicana Plantscapes, supplying plants for office buildings and Office Art, which rents art work.

Other impressive period features in what was the hall’s library, include a marble fireplace and the original bookcases. Made by Gillows of Lancaster, it is estimated that these alone are worth £60,000.

“The bookcases are incredible and they came with 250 old books that the interiors designers had collected from auctions. I haven’t read many mind you. They mainly seem to be about law,” says Sue.

Some of the bookshelves have been concealed behind walls to make the space useable. This was at the insistence of English Heritage, which worked closely with Burley Developments to ensure that the integrity of the grade two listed property remained intact.

Eshton Hall was a Palladian house remodelled in the 1820s for Matthew Wilson in Elizabethan revival style. It was later used as boys school and later as nursing home before being converted into apartments.

Famous visitors included Charlotte Brontë, who worked nearby as a governess. She came to visit the lady of the hall, Frances Currer, and to use her library, which was known as one of the finest in Europe with more than 10,000 books.

The Library has a living area, kitchen and feature staircase set in the original lightwell. The first floor has a landing, two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a cloakroom.

Outside, there is use of the communal gardens and grounds.

Sue is selling to move closer to friends and family in Harrogate, but says it will be wrench to leave.

“I come home from Leeds and it’s like being on another planet. It’s so picturesque here.”