WHAT started out life as a holiday cottage away from town life eventually won Malcolm and wife Brenda Grainge over and they made it their family home. But as SUSAN GOODSON found out, it was not until they had carried out a lot of work on this special place that it truly felt like home

THE Grainge family home was bought at auction 23 years ago and has been transformed and extended during that time. Its location in a quiet hamlet at first offered a quiet retreat for the family, but after three years it became the permanent family home. During that time the family have had chickens, goats and, for 10 very special years, donkeys.

The house - Ealinghearth Cottage, Ealinghearth - is a 17th Century detached three bedroomed cottage not far from Haverthwaite. It is the former holiday home of Arthur Ransome, author of Swallows and Amazons. Situated in the hamlet of Ealinghearth and within easy access of Ulverston, it has on the ground floor a front porch, lounge, kitchen diner, back porch, utility/drying room, a bedroom and shower room.

On the first floor are two more bedrooms and a bathroom, while outside there are south and west facing mature gardens and a large stone built garage. There is also a granite paved parking area for up to four vehicles. Included in the sale is a wood and large ornamental pond with an island extending to approximately 0.80 acres.

There is a further option to acquire stables and land to the back of the property. A lot of work has gone into creating a charming family home with its beautiful garden looking out over the fields beyond.

Malcolm said: “It was very basic and run down when we first bought it. It was almost three cottages and we have knocked through to make it one.

“We have also extended it because there were only two bedrooms and we have two daughters who were living with us at the time.

“It has had two new kitchens over the years with its own breakfast bar. “There is also a large walk-in larder with plenty of shelves.

"The lounge has exposed beams, a multi-fuel Much Wenlock stove which we had installed and a large south facing bay window looking out over the back garden.”

There is also a window to the side with its own window seat.

They also put in oak floorings and skirting boards and the fireplace which is so good it heats the whole house.

Of the three bedrooms, the downstairs one has fitted cupboards and wardrobe and a storage heater, the second has pine fitted cupboards and exposed beams while the third has its own emergency exit window to the back, exposed beams and an open fireplace with a marble hearth.

Being a very resourceful man, over the years Malcolm has also added utility area with slate flagged flooring with its own drop down pulley airer. The back porch was added on and it gives you access to the solid fuel store without having to go outside. It also has access to the loft from here. Steps take you to a useful shower room which is fully tiled and has a WC, hand basin and shower cubicle.

The Grainge family have also made the most of the idyllic location as Malcolm explained. “We love being in the countryside and the garden is very private. We have our own wood and barn and for 10 years we had donkeys from the sanctuary which Brenda loved, we also had the goats and hens.

“We get lots of birds which we encourage, as well as rabbits and roe deer.

“The garden is very bird and bee friendly.”

There is also a greenhouse and a small orchard behind the garage which Malcolm also had built.

With this charming family home's beautiful setting, there has to be a good reason for the Grainge’s selling their home.

Malcolm explained: “We have got to the age - I am 78 - where we want to be in town and in a bungalow. One of our daughters lives in Staveley and we want to be nearer to help with our disabled granddaughter.”

The house - Ealinghearth Cottage, Ealinghearth - is on the market with Harrison Coward Estate Agents for £425,000. For further details or to arrange a viewing please call the agent on 01229 582056 or call into the offices at County Square, Ulverston.