THE home of Deborah Sewell has had many lives, which is not surprising since it has been around for a century. And as she told SUSAN GOODSON, while having kept its character this private home come business has all modern facilities and is in a super location

THE chance to become the owner of a traditional Lakeland stone-built cottage in the Lake District was just too good to be true for Deborah Sewell.

Seventeen years later she has no regrets about the move from Blackpool to a truly beautiful part of the world which she feels genuinely lucky to be in.

The cottage was actually two flats when viewed, but after knocking down a few walls it was turned into one house. While having been home to Deborah and her two children, Rosie and Joe, six years ago she decided to rent it out as a bed and breakfast and move next door but one.

The house, Glendale, is in the beautiful village of Backbarrow, and is a stone-built home set in a large plot. Inside it contains a kitchen, dining room, lounge, entrance porch, utility room and to the first floor a family bathroom and four bedrooms.

Outside there is a large and private garden with decking on which is a large hot tub included in the sale.

There is additional gravelled seating and barbecue area and parking for three vehicles.

Despite turning her home into a B and B, Deborah has no difficulties talking about the highlights of the house.

She explained: “I had wanted to move to the Lake District for a while and wanted a stone-built house.

“I would never leave the area now and am only moving because after remarrying we want a new project and something together.

“It is a beautiful rural setting but we are close to schools, shops and are members of the Cascade gym in the Whitewater Hotel which is a great facility. Plus the doctor is just across the road.

“We are handy to the motorway, Kendal, Barrow and Ulverston with all their facilities.

“Of all the rooms in the house, I have always loved the lounge. It is very spacious and great for entertaining.”

The room gets plenty of natural light with a door to the front of the house, double patio doors at the back overlooking the deck and garden beyond and windows front and back. It also has a stunning stone-faced fireplace and chimney breast with a wood burning stove.

Deborah added: “I also love the views from the bedrooms upstairs.”

The modern bathroom has a white four-piece suite, including a quadrant shower base with mains shower, wash hand basin, WC and bath with mixer tap. The room has also been fully tiled including the floor.

The old damaged windows have been replaced with velux windows.

Asked about the kitchen, Deborah said: “The large slate flags floor came from an old nunnery where they had been rescued.

“Windows to the side and back of the kitchen look out over the garden and there are ceiling beams. You can get to the porch, utility and dining room from the kitchen.

“The garden is big but we have kept it low maintenance and split it into two sections, but that could easily be reversed if the new owner wanted.

“We have loved living here and I am so glad I made the move because it is a wonderful location.”

The house is on the market with Home and Finance Estate Agents for £315,000.

For further details or to arrange a viewing please call the agent on 01229 870967 or drop into the Barrow offices at 233-235 Dalton Road.