INSIDE STORY: Listed Barrow cottage is steeped in history

Delightful character

£285,000

Corrie and Co Estate Agents

(01229) 825333

A GRADE II listed cottage full of character and steeped in history has been home to the Hammett family for half a century.

And for Mike Hammett who grew up with his mum and dad Marion and Michael and two younger sisters and a younger brother, it is full of wonderful memories.

Romney Cottage is high up on Ormsgill Lane, a semi-detached property dating back to 1742 and was the early home of famous eighteenth century artist George Romney.

Its location is private and discreet, being set well back from the roadside with a gated entrance and then a short drive opening up on to a deep and wide concrete front/courtyard with parking for an entire fleet of cars.

To the side is a large attached garage/workshop with two front wood doors, a back external door and window and a separate garage (on third party land which is leased annually, with a small garden area).

Inside is a lounge with Inglenook-style fire with a beamed ceiling, a second reception room with living flame gas fire/surround, kitchen, ground floor WC and back inner hall and spindled stairs.

Upstairs there are three good bedrooms with beam features and a four-piece bathroom.

Speaking about the history of his family's home, Mike said: "We loved it as children and so did the other kids and we were always outside playing football or in the woods.

"We had dogs, cats and hens and it is just such a lovely safe environment to bring up a family.

"Although it is tucked away here, it is also very handy for the town.

"The big garage was handy because my father was a builder and he stored all his stuff in there. He also used to make beautiful grandfather clocks there and we all got one. They are lovely family heirlooms.

"The cottage has retained many of its original features.

While what seems to be the front of the building with its massive courtyard, is actually the back of the house and the lounge is the first room entered from this angle and faces the garden.

With its sash windows, a central feature is the Inglenook, open chimney recess with copper-style canopy, central fitted gas fire with quarry tiled hearth and inset timber beam lintel.

There are two double power points and TV aerial with Skylink. The ceiling has traditional beams, built-in cupboard with glazed cabinet and a timber door to the second reception room while a further doorway leads to the kitchen.

A lovely focal point of the second reception room which faces the front with the woodlands, is the modern fitted, open coals living flame gas fire, with brass grate, beige shaded marble surround and hearth.

This room, like the first, has good ceiling height with stained beams and a timber door leading to the inner hall with a recess for saniflo WC and access to the stairs.

The kitchen has timber sash windows to the back and UPVC double glazed window to the side. It has been fitted with a range of traditional base, wall and glazed display units. There is also a stone effect, green shaded sink with brass mixer tap and inset drainer.

Fitted appliances included in the sale are the steel canopy filter cooker hood with fan and light, five ring gas hob with wok burner and fan assisted twin oven with grill, light and timer.

Bedroom one has a sash paned window facing the back courtyard and the garden area. There is a second window, part-inclined ceiling and built-in double sliding door wardrobe.

Bedroom two has a sash, painted timber window to the the back and a further window to the side, built-in twin door wardrobe, lagged hot water tank with electric immersion heater and exposed inset beams to the wall.

Bedroom three, with its sash window, faces the woodland and also has built-in recessed wardrobe with twin sliding doors and two exposed ceiling timbers.

But it is not just the Hammett family who have enjoyed the house.

Mike added: "Years ago Furness Railway used to run day trips to Romney Cottage, visit the Romney museum and there were coaches turning in the driveway with people taking photographs.

"To the front of the property is the former sandstone quarry which is now a woodland walk.

"We have loved living here and it is such a shame to sell it, but our father died three years ago and now due to ill health our mother cannot live here and so we are selling it.

"It is a great family home with loads of potential to expand it if the new owners wanted."