Stephen Walkden and his family describe their home as ‘our own little piece of heaven’, but when they first saw the estate agent’s board outside Woodside they didn’t even know the house existed.

“When we looked around we were amazed because we weren’t aware that it was there and were astonished to find such a great property smack bang in the middle of Oakworth,” says Stephen.

“The ‘wow’ factors were the total privacy – an oasis in the middle of the village – and the peace and quiet. It also has easy access to the local shops and transport.”

Woodside was built about 14 years ago in the grounds of Sir Isaac Holden’s estate. Sir Isaac invented machinery for the wool mill industry.

In the grounds his gardeners planted a fantastic array of trees from all over the world, including monkey puzzle trees, oak trees, copper beech and fir. Some of the original paths and steps still exist today.

Since moving in 11 years ago there have been a great many changes.

Stephen says: “We’ve extended the dining room, added a porch and constructed a very spacious conservatory, as well as extending the patio.”

Inside the house there’s a new kitchen with Corian worktops with fully integrated appliances and a range cooker. New bathrooms have been added as well as a new en-suite to the master bedroom, which together with another bedroom has a range of built-in wardrobes.

As for entertaining, you could not ask for better with a dining room that easily accommodates a table large enough for 18 people.

Woodside is certainly a substantial family home. On the ground floor is a cloakroom, sitting room and dining room with French doors into the rear garden, a living room overlooking the front garden, study, breakfast kitchen with double doors into a conservatory and a utility room. Off the first floor galleried landing is the master bedroom with en-suite, four further bedrooms, shower room, family bathroom and home office with fitted desk and shelving. And if all that isn’t large enough, there is also planning permission to extend the property.

“Our favourite room has to be the conservatory, which leads out on to the patio,” says Stephen. “To sit and listen to the peace and quiet is quite unbelievable.”

Approached through double electric gates with a sweeping gravel driveway, Woodside sits in an acre of delightful landscaped gardens with a woodland backdrop.

The south-facing, 60-metre square patio is ideal for barbecues and admiring the gardens, which offer something for all ages. There’s a tree house with a veranda, a Wendy house and an ornamental carp pool and waterfall with pergola.

The extensively-stocked gardens are totally enclosed and include flower beds, sweeping lawns, separate raised decked area, a wealth of specimen trees and shrubs and a greenhouse.

Stephen says: “We’ve made it manageable by adding small boundary walls to beds and a protective weed barrier.

“There are additional lights down the drive and throughout the garden, illuminating it in the dark to create a magical experience.

“It is so nice on an evening to walk around the garden with a glass of wine or two just admiring the beauty and deciding what next to do with the garden, as we are both perfectionists.

“The best thing about living at Woodside is that it is ultimately a family home where the children are totally safe and can play in the garden for hours, sometimes having tea in either the Wendy house or tree house veranda.

“To put it simply, it’s been our own little piece of heaven.”

Woodside in Highfield Lane, Oakworth, is on the market for £595,000 with Carter Jonas, Leeds, tel (0113) 2031090, web www.carterjonas.co.uk