Clifford House, Yealand Road, Yealand Conyers, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9SJ.
THE VENDORS SAY:
When was the house built?
The origins of the building lie in a 15th century farmhouse which also served the village as an inn. The original structure was ‘gentrified’ during the early 19th century and became Clifford Hall. Around the turn of the 20th century, the rambling property was split into four separate dwellings, the largest of which is now Clifford House.
How long have you lived in the house?
We purchased the house in December 2020 but didn’t start living here until Christmas 2021, following a year of intense work getting it to a habitable condition.
What first attracted you to it?
Despite being in a state of disrepair when we first viewed the property, the grandeur and striking original features were irresistible. The house has good bones, and the high ceilings, ornate fireplaces and Victorian window shutters provide the sort of elegance and charm that can only be found in an historic building.
How have you changed the house?
We were very keen to restore the house to its former glory and be sympathetic to the building, while making it suitable for contemporary living. The careful renovations of the house took about two and a half years, almost all of which we did ourselves. The property was re-roofed in reclaimed slate and the original windows were replaced like-for-like with timber frame double glazing. Having previously been heated only via open fires, a new central heating system was installed and it was fully re-wired and re-plastered (including re-instating plaster cornicing throughout). We did as little as possible to the layout, as from day one the house has an incredible flow that is perfect for both family life and entertaining.
What will you miss most about the house?
We will miss the spectacular walks on the doorstep and the proximity to such beautiful rural scenery. Whatever the season, Clifford House makes an incredible home; in the warmer months, you can spill out in to the generous gardens and surrounding countryside and in the colder, winter months, the house comes into its own with roaring fires and cosy corners.
Describe the garden:
A reclaimed York stone patio leading off the rear of the house provides a versatile space for outdoor living and opens on to a large lawned area and wildflower meadow. At the far end of the plot, a garden room and brick patio offer a private, tranquil space that gets the summer sun until late into the evening. To the front of the house, there are raised limestone borders with mature planting that includes alliums, hydrangeas, and wisteria that trails spectacularly up the walls and around the period front door.
THE AGENT SAYS:
This is a spectacular illustration of contemporary design in a home with a remarkable history. The charming sitting room overlooks the large rear garden, while the cosy living area sits around a hand-crafted open fireplace, with a wooden door opening onto the lawn and patio area. The bespoke kitchen has a stylish range cooker and there are five bedrooms and two bathrooms, split across two floors with ample storage.
Outside there is off-road parking for three vehicles, and a good-sized garden area accessed by double private gates. This predominantly laid to lawn garden has mature hedging, planted borders and a wildflower meadow area. A separate summer house provides an additional area to work from home and an excellent undercroft storage area, located below the kitchen.
THE DETAILS
Clifford House, Yealand Road, Yealand Conyers, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9SJ.
Price: £750,000.
Contact: Armitstead Barnett, Crooklands, Milnthorpe, 01539 751993, cumbria@abarnett.co.uk.
