Restored to glory in an idyllic setting

Sydenham House, Aberford Price: £1.5m www.dacres.co.uk

The pretty and historic village of Aberford is a gem that many house hunters miss.

Surrounded by countryside, it has a thriving community, a good primary school, popular pubs and a village store. The market town of Wetherby is a 12-minute drive away and there is quick and easy access to the M1 and the A1M with York and Leeds both a 20-minute drive.

Those who do turn their attention to Aberford will find that one of its finest homes is for sale. Sydenham House is on the market and has everything a family could want.

Gill and Gary Broadley fell in love with its location, period features and potential when they bought it 28 years ago.

They are now downsizing, hence the sale, but Gill says: “Our children were four and seven when we moved here and it was an amazing place to bring them up.”

The Broadleys carried out a sensitive renovation and modernisation of the 200-year-old property.

They repaired the fabric of the building and installed new plumbing, heating and electrics. The magnificent hall, which has Minton floor tiles, was restored, as was the oak staircase, which boasts posts carved by Henry

Newel while he was working at Temple Newsam House.

The vast cellars have also been converted and the décor throughout has been brightened with paint and wallpapers from Cole and Son, Zoffany and Osborne and Little and Gill. A friend even painted a sky scene mural on the landing ceiling.

One of the biggest feats was transforming the acre of muddy field outside into beautifully landscaped gardens.

The house has a large central hall, three reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen with Aga plus ancillary rooms including a guest cloakroom, large utility room and rear hall. Upstairs, there are five bedrooms, two en-suites and a house bathroom.

The lower ground-floor rooms include a snooker room, wine store and a playroom from where you can access the garden, meaning this extensive space could easily be converted to create a self-contained apartment.

A full-width orangery opens to the gardens and is surmounted by a large terrace. The property has remote-controlled gates, a parking area and a double garage. A 2.85acre nature reserve with lake is available by separate negotiation.