A HISTORIC property on the site of a notable country house turned care home has come on the market in Keighley.
The four-bedroom semi-detached house in High Spring Gardens Lane dates back to the late 19th Century and stands in the grounds of the historic Laurel Mount Nursing Home built by one of the district's biggest mill owners.
Inside the home retains much of its historic features, with exposed beams and quirky wood panelling, off-kilter ceilings and fireplaces fitted with wood burners which keep the home cosy during winter months.
There is also oak and slate flooring, grand wooden doors and original storage cupboards to bring a real sense of history to the home.
In the kitchen-diner sits a good-sized range cooker, modern units, a double sink and integrated dishwasher providing all the mod-cons required alongside the home’s historic features.
There are two sitting rooms providing space and quiet for all the family and plenty of natural light through large windows.
Upstairs leads to a very spacious master bedroom complete with fitted wardrobes, sky lights, exposed beams and an en-suite shower room, along with two more good sized double-bedrooms and a further smaller single bedroom which makes the perfect space for a study or playroom.
The family bathroom has separate bath and shower and is the space which most shows off the quirky sloping ceilings.
Outside, large wooden gates give way to a cobbled courtyard and double garage, while there is a decent sized lawned garden to the rear.
The house has been brought to market by Purple Bricks with a guide price of £325,000.
It sits in the grounds of Laurel Mount Nursing Home, originally built by Keighley worsted spinner Ira Ickringill in the 1880s for his family, with his gardener and servants living in nearby Laurel Mount Cottage.
He owned a worsted empire alongside his brother James in Bradford, running Eastwood, Walk, Dalton by 1887 and took over Legrams Mills in 1896, employing up to 2,000 people at their pomp.
He also served as Keighley Mayor from 1890 to 93, and died at home in 1911. Laurel Mount then passed into the hands of lathe manufacturer Arthur Smith who also served as the town’s mayor.
In 1926 he invited Princess Mary – Queen Elizabeth II’s aunt – to lunch at Laurel Mount during her visit to Keighley, where she spoke to disabled children from the town, and was said to have “thoroughly enjoyed” her visit.
After Arthur Smith’s death, the house slipped from public view for decades before being reopened as a nursing home in 1983, which it remains as to this day.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@telegraphandargus.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here