You can still ring the servants’ bells in Croft House, but as the days of upstairs and downstairs maids have long gone, it’s unlikely you’ll get an answer.

Owners Tony and Julie Cantrill spent a year giving this house back its history.

“As far as I know, the house was built in 1776 for the Butt family, who owned a mill in Spen Lane,” says Tony.

“We’ve lived here for six years, but the first year was spent renovating, plastering walls and ceilings, and sandblasting wooden beams that had been painted over many times.

“We were all hands-on at the beginning, clearing all carpets, old bathroom suites and stripping walls, but the rest of the work was carried out by trades people.”

Set in beautiful well-stocked gardens approaching two-thirds of an acre, Croft House is a stunning Georgian detached home with five bedrooms, four principal reception rooms, plus two bathrooms.

The family didn’t move in until the work was completed – and it was a lot of work.

Eighteen internal doors were dipped, stripped and waxed. New central heating was installed and the house re-wired with new sockets, light switches, computer and TV points.

Twenty original sash windows were refurbished, wallpaper scraped, new bathrooms, a bespoke kitchen and office fitted.

Three out of the five bedrooms have fitted wardrobes, two of which have computer desks with added storage.

“Finding the original fireplace in the Victorian kitchen was a moment I will always remember. It housed the old central heating boiler and I thought it was just a big cupboard until it was unscrewed and there was a six-foot stone lintel across the wall.

“The kitchen is a real entertaining room – leading out into the conservatory and rear garden it lends itself to partying – great for barbecues.

“We have a dog who has her bed in the utility. It’s a very cool room in summer with its stone slab floors and old creel which is great for drying off the washing. One of the ‘wow factors’ driving up the gravel drive has to be the two old gas lamps which have been converted to electric now.

“The house with its imposing Georgian frontage is grand; even the cellar with a big stone slab table and meat hooks has a wow factor.

“The staircase is amazing. It just opens out in front of you and when the sun shines through the large arched window splashes of colour fill the room.

“My favourite room is the living room, especially at Christmas time. The real coal fire burning, an 11ft tree in the bay window and all the family round – it’s a real party house.

“Other features include 12-inch skirting boards, servant bells at the side of the fires, the butler’s table in the dining room, not to mention the massive doors with security bolts at the top and bottom. I think they were to keep the Luddites out! Great Gomersal as it was known in the 1800s was home to many mill owners.

“If you want to get lost in Austen this is the house for you, although it is more likely to have links with the Brontes as the house is just three doors down from the Red House Museum.

“I sometimes wonder if perhaps Charlotte called in for a cup of tea with her friend Mary Taylor.

“The gardens are mature as you would expect and some of the trees have a preservation order on them.

“We have more than thirty large trees, oak, ash, purple beech and horse chestnut, and there is plenty of wildlife to spot, including grey squirrels, many different birds, including owls, and we also have a disused well.”

Finally, says Tony: “Although the house is not a listed building I do hope the next custodian is as sensitive to all the original features as we have tried to be.”bathrooms, a bespoke kitchen and office fitted.

Three out of the five bedrooms have fitted wardrobes, two of which have computer desks with added storage.

“Finding the original fireplace in the Victorian kitchen was a moment I will always remember. It housed the old central heating boiler and I thought it was just a big cupboard until it was unscrewed and there was a six-foot stone lintel across the wall.

“The kitchen is a real entertaining room – leading out into the conservatory and rear garden it lends itself to partying – great for barbecues.

“We have a dog who has her bed in the utility. It’s a very cool room in summer with its stone slab floors and old creel which is great for drying off the washing. One of the ‘wow factors’ driving up the gravel drive has to be the two old gas lamps which have been converted to electric now.

“The house with its imposing Georgian frontage is grand; even the cellar with a big stone slab table and meat hooks has a wow factor.

“The staircase is amazing. It just opens out in front of you and when the sun shines through the large arched window splashes of colour fill the room.

“My favourite room is the living room, especially at Christmas time. The real coal fire burning, an 11ft tree in the bay window and all the family round – it’s a real party house.

“Other features include 12-inch skirting boards, servant bells at the side of the fires, the butler’s table in the dining room, not to mention the massive doors with security bolts at the top and bottom. I think they were to keep the Luddites out! Great Gomersal as it was known in the 1800s was home to many mill owners.

“If you want to get lost in Austen this is the house for you, although it is more likely to have links with the Brontes as the house is just three doors down from the Red House Museum.

“I sometimes wonder if perhaps Charlotte called in for a cup of tea with her friend Mary Taylor.

“The gardens are mature as you would expect and some of the trees have a preservation order on them.

“We have more than thirty large trees, oak, ash, purple beech and horse chestnut, and there is plenty of wildlife to spot, including grey squirrels, many different birds, including owls, and we also have a disused well.”

Finally, says Tony: “Although the house is not a listed building I do hope the next custodian is as sensitive to all the original features as we have tried to be.”