Laying down the law for a happy home
Woodley Chase, Alwoodley £2.6m
LEAVING a happy and muchloved home is always a wrench but family comes first and always has for Marilyn Stowe and her husband Grahame, which is why they are preparing to say goodbye to Woodley Chase in the sought after enclave of Alwoodley in North Leeds.
The couple, now retired, are best known as highly successful lawyers with Marilyn making her name in the family law arena. She founded her own business Stowe Family Law in 1982 and she was the “go to” lawyer for helping women in particular to get a fair and final divorce settlement in an era when that was a tough ask.
Those on the opposite side of the table put their heads in their hands when they realised they would be negotiating with her and she and her team left no stone unturned in rooting out hidden assets owned by high net worth individuals.
She sold her interest in the firm, which has clients in the UK, Europe, the Far East and America, and retired in 2017.
That meant more time to spend in the much-loved, five-bedroom home, which she and Grahame bought 33 years ago after falling for its prime location, its potential and its charm.
“The house was built in 1954 and was copied from a house down in Windsor that the then owner had admired. After we bought it, we trebled the size of it and used architect Peter Langton who specialised in church architecture. He did a superb job,” says Marilyn, who adds: “We have had 33 wonderful years here and the house is full of memories of children, parties and laughter.
“It is a peaceful, south-facing house that has been a happy home and a place for getting away from it all after a stressful day,” says Marilyn. “I am sorry to leave it but we have to go where our heart is so we are moving to London to be close to our son and our grandchildren.”
She adds: “I hope whoever buys this house will be as happy here as we have been.”
Woodley Chase is on the market for £2.6m with Carter Jonas Harrogate and is a 10-minute walk from Leeds Grammar School.
The property is set in three quarters of an acre of secluded gardens on Wigton Lane and should be a lure for keen golfers as it is also close to three golf courses.
Leeds city centre and Leeds Bradford airport are both 15 minutes’ drive away.
Inside, the ground floor includes a reception hall, a drawing room, sitting room, a large dining/living space and an oak panelled snug.
The dining kitchen with orangery has smart Poggenpohl cabinetry and there is also a utility room, cloakroom, sun lounge and conservatory on this level.
On the first floor is a galleried landing, a large principal bedroom with fitted dressing area and ensuite shower room. There are also two further bedroom suites with private bathrooms, along with two further bedrooms and a shower room
Outside, there are the glorious gardens, a driveway, two sets of electric entrance gates, an integral double garage and a detached single garage.