Nightmare turns into dream home

4:43pm Wednesday 12th March 2008

What would be your worst nightmare after you have moved into your new home? Well Dean and Tracey Deacon were spoiled for choice...

It could have been the fact that their septic tank packed up and needed replacing. Or that Yorkshire Water had no connection to the property, so they had to be hooked up to the mains, 60 metres away. Then again, it might have been when they had to prepare meals for eight weeks with just a camping stove and microwave.

But despite problems which would have many running screaming for the hills, Tracey and Dean never gave up.

Dean says: "We saw that under the surface of the neglect was a beautiful, large old barn conversion with bags of character and architectural features."

What they have achieved is a tribute to their perseverance and determination.

Meadowcroft is a stone-built Grade II listed barn conversion with gas heating, double glazing and burglar alarm, standing in grounds of around an acre, surrounded by open countryside.

The couple first saw the house in February 2002.

"The house was in a bad state of repair and the land was entirely overgrown. It was the fantastic location that attracted us," Dean recalls. "The position is very private and quiet. It has a rural feeling with amazing views over Bradford.

"We were quite naive about the amount of work - and expense - we were taking on. The house was structurally sound but just about everything internally needed replacing and updating.

"One of our first challenges was working out where our water came from. Yorkshire Water had no connection to the property, but water appeared when you turned the tap on! We had a connection to the mains down the whole length of the drive."

"Kitchens, bathrooms, floors, electrics, plumbing - they all needed replacing. Even the septic tank packed up within three months and had to be replaced," says Tracey.

At one point they had 25 tradesmen on site and wondered if it would have been easier to have demolished the barn and build it again from scratch.

"When the ground floor was being remodelled during the installation of the kitchen, we returned from holiday and thought the builders had used a couple of grenades rather than drills and hammers," says Dean. "For eight weeks we survived with just a camping stove and microwave and washed up in the bath - all while Tracey was pregnant."

Room by room, the couple brought Meadowcroft back to life. It now has a split-level living room with feature stone fireplace, sitting room with solid fuel stove, beamed ceiling and windows to the front and back, plus a dining room with polished stone fireplace, flagged floor and beams.

The breakfast area has a flagged floor and exposed stone to one wall, while the kitchen has a range of bespoke wooden units with granite worktops, range cooker, freezer, walk-in fridge and stone flagged floor. A utility room has a Belfast sink.

Upstairs are four bedrooms and a galleried landing which could be turned into a fifth bedroom. The master bedroom has built-in wardrobes, drawers and dressing table, with an en-suite tiled shower room. The tiled family bathroom has corner bath with spa and corner shower cubicle.

It was to the gardens and grounds - approached through electric gates up a sweeping driveway - that they next turned their attention.

"Our first job was to work out exactly how much garden we had," says Dean. "It was impossible to tell where any of the boundary walls were as it was entirely overgrown."

Tracey adds: "We spent six months hacking, chopping, strimming and moving until we had found all four boundary walls and discovered about an acre of land. In the process we found another water feature - a second disused sceptic tank - an old well and a lost rose garden."

They planted a hedgerow and numerous fruit trees - they harvest apples, pears, damsons, plums and apricots.

"We've also planted some large trees such as maple and horse chestnut to complement the mature ash trees," says Dean. "We've built a large, walk-in fruit cage where we grow soft fruits, such as blueberries, raspberries, cherries and strawberries.

"Our proudest achievement has probably been the creation of our vegetable plot. A large paved area, in a sheltered corner of the garden, it contains a huge greenhouse and eight large raised growing beds. Last year we got excellent crops.

"For our young son, Tom, it was a wonderful summer planting seeds, watering plants, watching our food grow and then helping with the cropping. We try to produce everything as organically as possible."

Dean says they don't have a favourite room in the house... they love it all. "Maybe it's a bit of a cliche, but I don't believe you ever own' a property like Meadowcroft so much as look after it for the next generation. As the time comes for us to move on, we're incredibly happy and proud to have been able to rescue and restore such an amazing property."

Meadowcroft in Cockin Lane, Clayton, is on the market for £535,000 with Dacre, Son & Hartley, Saltaire, (01274) 581794.

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