It really is a small world, as mobile hairdresser Gillian Sunderland discovered when she visited a lady in an old people's home to give her a new hairstyle.

For, while chatting to the lady, Gillian found out that her new client was brought up in the very home that she now lives in.

"My aunt had told me that many years ago a family of music teachers lived here, with a grand piano in the lounge," says Gillian. "It was amazing to visit the old folk's home and discover this lady who was the daughter of those very same music teachers."

Gillian and husband Kenneth first saw this Edwardian terraced property 13 years ago.

"We lived further up the road and just happened to be driving past and thought we'd have a look. We had no intention of moving at the time, but the look of it just appealed to us," she recalls.

"When we moved in we fell in love with it. It's so big and spacious; we had two teenagers at the time so it was great for them. They could just go up to the attic space with all their friends."

When they move in the couple were intrigued to find out some of the history of the house, which dates back to 1902, although it turned out to be a more difficult task than they envisaged. However, they did find out that their home formed part of terrace owned, Gillian believes, by Lord Saville.

The first thing Gillian and Kenneth did after moving in was to have a new damp proof course put in.

"The bathroom was done next because it had an avocado suit, and the toilet was on a throne; you had to step up to it. Very disconcerting! That had to go. We replaced it with a nice white suite," she says.

"We put in double glazing and replaced the central heating boiler last year. An extension had been added in the 1970s and that is now our kitchen. Putting in a new kitchen units was left until we could afford it. Someone designed it for us and it's lovely, with pear wood units. It just seems right for the house.

"As well as decorating, we put in a period style feature fire surround to replace the one that was there in the lounge, and stripped the floorboards in one of the bedrooms. That was a terrible job. I couldn't move for days after, but it was worth it. That particular bedroom was baby pink and blue, and it wasn't a room for a child either.

"We just painted it until we could afford the wallpaper we wanted... and it certainly took some covering. We took our time over the decorating, because we wanted really special wallpaper."

This is a comfortable family home that has been beautifully decorated in keeping with the style of house, yet with a modern slant.

It has an entrance porch, hallway, study, lounge, dining room and spacious dining kitchen on the ground floor, with three bedrooms on the first floor together with a four piece bathroom, plus an attic bedroom. There is also off-street parking and a tiered garden.

There are plenty of character features including a period tiled fire surround in the dining room, ceiling rose in the lounge and ceiling beams to the attic.

Unlike many such properties there is also plenty of storage, including a walk-in storage room off the side entrance lobby with a range of base and wall units.

"My favourite room is the bedroom; I just love it. The sun comes in during the morning and, like the garden, it gets the sun all day. My husband and I also like the dining room because it overlooks the gardens.

"There wasn't much of a garden at all when we moved in. Years ago the gardens were known as drying land', but as we were the end house we fenced it all off and put in a patio, gravelled area, lawn and decking. My husband built the decking; it was the first time he'd ever done it.

"All the rooms are a good size and it really is very peaceful. The house has a lovely feel. It's also a great house for parties because you can go straight out into the garden from the kitchen."

Now that the children have left home, Gillian and Kenneth feel that the house is just too big for them, so they are looking to downsize.

"From the front the house doesn't look that big. But once you're inside it seems to be never-ending. We're going to miss the space the most - I don't know what we're going to do with all the furniture.

The couple have loved living in an old house. "They don't build them like that any more. An old house has much more of a feel to it, and a history."

This property in Bradford Road, East Bierley, is on the market for £250,000 with Robert Watts, Birkenshaw, (01274) 689589.