AFTER a long search Jason Barnes knew he had finally found the house he was looking for as soon as he saw it. As he told SUSAN GOODSON it was in a location he knew well and was a house with plenty of character, but with all the modern conveniences

THE Barnes home has been the scene of many family gatherings, parties and barbecues over the last decade.

The lounge, with its huge fireplace and view over the fields, helped ensure a wonderful, cosy Christmas complete with the decorated tree in the corner.

Having grown up in the area, the location of his home was well known to Jason and just what he wanted to come home to after travelling and work.

Berry House, at Stank, near Barrow, is in a charming rural location and is a traditional detached home originally dating from 1735.

The house has been extended to the ground floor and offers excellent living accommodation set in good sized garden grounds with ample off road parking.

The house and land are made up of a deep-set garden front with imprinted concrete drive, entrance hall, wash room, lounge, dining room, sitting room, study, sun lounge, kitchen diner and to the first floor three bedrooms with an en-suite room and family bathroom. An original staircase leads to a second floor fourth bedroom.

The property has substantial grounds to the side and back with the back garden overlooking open countryside.

Jason considers himself lucky to have got his feet in the door of his beautiful country home after having won a bidding war for the property.

He has made more than his fair share of changes to the layout of the house but before he got his hands on it there had already been two extensions.

The first in 1985 created a private conservatory reached through an open arch from the study or "man cave" just off the central hallway.

What is now the kitchen was a much smaller room with a ginnel, while what is now the dining room created by a second extension in 1987 was the previous owners' bedroom with a wet room.

The kitchen diner has granite working surfaces, ceramic sink, built-in dish washer, wine cooler, washing machine and plenty of room around the dining table in the middle to allow a team effort to get meals ready and drinks poured.

An open doorway goes into the separate dining room which then leads into another living room, which has been claimed by Jason's son.

Talking about the many things he likes about his home, Jason said: "I love older properties and houses with character and this place has plenty of that but with all the modern facilities.

"The two big fireplaces in the lounge and the study caught my attention straight away; I love them.

"The lounge has a multi-fuel stove with a slate hearth and sandstone features, oak flooring and my study come 'man cave' also has a multi stove, plus a beamed ceiling.

"The entrance hall has an oak floor and beamed ceiling but then I had a slate put down just outside the kitchen and in the kitchen itself.

"We have just had a new bathroom put in with a white suite with a bath, WC, basin and an electric over-bath shower."

The bathroom is on the first floor, as is Jason's son's bedroom, which has its own en-suite and two further bedrooms.

An inviting feature of the first floor landing is the window seat looking out over the back garden with its original deep sill, showcasing just how thick the walls of the house are.

The original staircase leads to the big master bedroom with its two double glazed sky lights and ceiling beams.

For a big house, on a very cold winter's day it is warm and cosy throughout.

Almost every room has views of the surrounding garden but thanks to the position of the house there is plenty of privacy.

Jason added: "Outside there are dog kennels, glasshouse, shed, and an orchard which includes apple and plum trees and there is also permission to build a three-car garage.

"I love this house and the area. The neighbours are wonderful people and my son grew up with the children across the road.

"We look out over the farm next door and you can see the new born lambs and calves.

"The reason I am selling is that after two years of marriage my wife Melanie lives in Preston for her work; she has to travel a lot and needs to be near the motorways.

"We want a house together and one that has land to cater for her eight horses."

Berry House is on the market with Ross Estate Agencies reduced to £384,950. For further details or to arrange a viewing please call the agent on 01229 825636 or drop into the Barrow offices at 16 Cavendish Street.