The first owner of this delightful three bedroom home was a poet, who would sit in a corner at the top of the wood on a summer’s evening, enjoying the view while she wrote her poems.

And that is how Even Grace got its name. Even for the evening sun and Grace for the grace of God and there is still a small cross on the iron gate.

“I came across the house accidentally. It has been empty for two years as the old lady who lived there had died in hospital and it was in a very poor state.

“I knew the minute I stepped over the threshhold that it was meant for me.”

Even Grace was once part of the farm buildings in the court yard which used to belong to Gawthorpe Hall, where the owner’s grandfather was head gardener in the 1920’s, “My mother spent her early years living in the courtyard so it has many memories for her and myself as a little girl.

“My mother’s friend, who was the chauffeur’s daughter, still lived with her elderly mother in the yard as a married woman and we would walk from Crossflatts on a summer’s evening and have supper, which was home made raspberry jam and bread with water from the tap. How times have changed.”

The owner found a good builder and started the painstaking task of bringing the cottage back to life.

New plumbing, rewiring, new wood in the roof, all external and internal doors and windows replaced and gas central heating installed as well as having the house damp-proofed.

“I had a conservatory built, an old asbestos garage removed and the summer house built in its place, which I enjoy in the summer.

“Looking out over a marvellous vista and reading a good book with a coffee and then falling asleep.

“I have lived here for 15 years. The ‘wow’ factor for me is the quietness and position of the cottage – and the fact that not many people know that it exists. It has its own wood where I found some old Virol bottles as once upon a time it was where the refuse was thrown from the hall.”

The work has continued over the years, with fitted wardrobes in the first and second bedrooms and because the owner loves books, she had bookcases built in the hall, lounge and study.

The open porch was enclosed with a door and window and a tiled floor as the autumn leaves used to collect in it and three large storage rooms formed in the attic space. The work in the house has been tremendous over the years from the initial restoration.”

Upstairs the shower room was made in to a laundry and drying room with space for ironing.

“It is much easier to do the laundry on the same level as bedrooms – an idea I picked up in Germany.”

The kitchen was totally revamped as it only contained a sink and electric fire and one wall cupboard. “There were four doors in this room so I got rid of two and streamlined it. The pantry was made from the coalhouse where the fridge freezer is housed and ornamental shelving which are hand-painted to match some black forest items purchased many years ago.

“My guest bedroom was recently decorated and new wood floor fitted.

“Most of the ground floor is tiled as it is much easier to keep clean. In the lounge I had a feature fire place built and patio doors installed for easy access when eating outside.

When the work was finally completed there was an entrance hall, lounge, open plan dining area, conservatory, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom on the ground floor, with the remaining bedroom and shower room.laundry on the first floor. The outside wasn’t neglected either with an easy to manage garden created from the wilderness it was when the house was bought.

“Living at Even Grace has been a very happy 15 years with family leaving the cottage and returning and visiting, my retirement, grand children arriving, and my sewing hobby moving into the second bedroom.

“My favourite room is the conservatory which faces west and the light is very good for painting and also watching the wild life. I often entertain friends and meet in the conservatory and the water feature and the picture outside makes a very restful room to entertain in.

“The house would appeal to someone who has a creative nature or a couple who would like to develop the house further as the three rooms in the roof would make rooms with a marvellous view as the cottage stands in an elevated position.”

“Sadly I have realised that this chapter of my life has to change and move to a smaller property.

“You take your memories with you and you don’t leave them in the house, so while I shall be sad to leave I am ready for the next chapter and Even Grace will be here for the next owner to enjoy and build upon what I started 15 years ago.”