Sunny Garth, Ellar Carr Road, Cullingworth, £699,950
Dacre, Son & Hartley, Bingley (01274) 560421

The current owners were attracted to Sunny Garth because, although it is surrounded by six and a half acres of land, it had all the benefits of village amenities, and thanks to the stable block that has been built, would be ideal for a family with equestrian interests.

“We saw the house in 1986 in a local paper. We love it because it had all the advantages of being ‘in the countryside’ – six and a half acres of land and the privacy that being completely surrounded by one’s own land gives, and yet had all the advantages of being in a village with all the amenities that provides – mains services, road and rail transport, schools, shops and pubs, all within walking distance.”

Approached through imposing stone pillars with electric gates and a sweeping drive, Sunny Garth is an Edwardian home, built in 1904. “It was built by Ira Greenwood, the eldest son of Thomas Greenwood who lived next door at Ellar Carr and owned Ellar Carr Mills on Keighley Road and all the land and property in the Ellar Carr valley in Cullingworth.

“The family lived as a sort of commune in a way and there was a communal family coach house and stable block built at the bottom of the garden at Sunny Garth. At one point Sunny Garth was later owned by Mr Thompson, a director of Dacre Son & Hartley, who are now agents for the sale of the house.”

As well as Sunny Garth, which has four bedrooms, three reception rooms and a kitchen, there is also, in addition, a modern self-contained multi-functional single storey annexe with an independent hallway, inner hallway, lounge with double doors into a dining room, kitchen, utility, bedroom with bay window and fitted wardrobes, bathroom and store cellar. This is a space that would be ideal for independent living or as business premises.

“We have modernised the house but have been very careful to keep the period features and the period ‘feel’ of the house intact.”

Beautifully presented, the house has a wealth of original stained glass, woodwork, parquet floors and plasterwork.

On the ground floor is a reception hallway with Minster stone fireplace, cloakroom and three reception rooms. The sitting room has a bay window with stained glass in the top section, a fitted fire surround and illuminated display cabinets in the alcoves to display family treasures. The dining room has a window to the side – again with stained glass – carved oak fire surround with gas stove and double doors into a conservatory with tiled floor and a further set of double doors leading to the formal gardens.

“We have had an Oak Leaf of York period hardwood conservatory built, and this is fully double glazed with copies of stained glass found in other parts of the house.”

Also on the ground floor is a snug, and a comprehensively fitted kitchen with built in double oven, integrated fridge, built in dishwasher and Amtico flooring. Upstairs is a master bedroom with a range of fitted wardrobes and an en-suite shower room including a tiled shower cubicle together with three further bedrooms, a quality fitted bathroom with travertine tiled walls, and a separate WC.

“My favourite room is my bedroom and en-suite. It feels so luxurious, and has everything I could want or need.”

Outside, the stable block consists of three large stables, one of which is an extra large foaling box, purpose-built tack room, feed store and trailer/caravan garage. Plus extensive garaging in the stable yard and a fourth stable in the orchard. There are also two open fronted garages and two enclosded garages. “The garden was very overgrown when we bought the house and we have worked over the years to create, in the main, an English-style garden with lawns, patio and paved areas, ornamental pond and flower beds. There is also a Hartley greenhouse with mains water and electricity.

The house is ideal for a family, with or without equestrian interests. Transport links are good to major West Yorkshire towns and cities and there are good primary and secondary schools in the village and nearby in Bingley. Bradford Grammar School is only 20 minutes away by road. The land is flat, with mains water supply, and is suitable for any type of livestock and is used for hay production by a local farmer at the moment. “We have really enjoyed living here and will be very sad to leave but are moving to be nearer our family, who live in Halifax.”