Cottage full of the past? (From Advertiser Series)

Cottage full of the past?

11:58am Thursday 2nd July 2009

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There can’t be many of us who would fancy living in a former mistal – a cowshed – but that didn’t put Noel McGurk off.

“Before I left school I used to work on Bailey Fold which used to be part of West End Farm, and I remember the mistal because I used to feed the cows that were here. I never thought I’d end up living in it,” he says.

“Originally it must have been built as a little crofter cottage with one room, because you could see where a fireplace had been,” says Noel.

“I did a barn conversion next door, and had this bit of the plot left over for which we got planning permission.”

This isn’t the only property Noel has worked on, and he’s lived in a few of them before spending the last two years in this one. “This has to be the best,” he says proudly.

Noel’s company N G McGurk Properties specialises in converting barns and chapels, including transforming the former Wesleyan Sunday School in Wilsden into 11 luxury apartments.

His extensive knowledge allowed him to turn this humble little property into a new home, but because they used mostly reclaimed materials, you get all the mod cons, but with a sense of history.

“We re-used the slate from here and from another barn conversion and the stone came from Birkshead Mills in Wilsden, so it matches exactly the other houses in the hamlet.

“Most of the floors are old maple from Mornington Road Church in Bingley, and the tiles in the porch are from there as well. The beams have also be re-used from somewhere else.

“I loved the challenge of building a new home, so when you touched things like the outside stone or the wooden floors, you were actually touched a piece of history from the area. Bailey Fold dates back to the 15th century, but some things in this cottage probably date back further.”

Upper Bailey Fold Cottage took a year to complete, and Noel, his wife Laura and children Finlay, five, and two-year-old Molly have lived there for two years.

“It’s been a good family home with double glazing, gas central heating, three bedrooms – two with en suite – conservatory and utility room,”

It’s certainly an attractive home with a solid maple floor in the hallway and a solid fuel cast iron stove in a feature stone surround in the lounge, which also has a maple floor and a wooden window seat, as well as ceiling beams.

With its butcher’s block work surfaces and Shaker-style cream base and wall units, the kitchen comes complete with a matching breakfast bar, double oven, gas hob, dishwasher, ceiling spotlights, a fully-tiled floor and double doors into the conservatory. Both rooms have underfloor heating..

“The conservatory is my favourite room. We have tea in here, and at night we can look straight down the valley. On the other hand, the front room with the log fire is lovely in winter.”

There is one bedroom and a modern bathroom with fully-tiled walls and floor on the ground floor, while upstairs there are two bedrooms, each with gable windows, roof lights and fitted wardrobes, and en-suite shower rooms.

There has been great attention to detail throughout the cottage. All the rooms are spacious and light, and you never get that oppressive feeling that you can often get with beams.

The work continued outside to make this a good space for children. “We put in a lawn to the front, which is south-facing, a Yorkshire stone paved patio, drive, parking and turning area. There are also gardens to the side and rear, with a rockery and flower beds.

“The garden isn’t huge, but it’s in proportion to the size of the house. The cottage is on a private lane with just six other houses in the hamlet, so although it’s private it never feels isolated. Also, for safety, we put in an electric remote-controlled entrance gate.

“The whole family have loved living here, but we’re looking for something with a little more land, because Laura would like to keep a horse again.”

Upper Bailey Fold Cottage, off Cote Lane, Allerton. Price: £269,950. Agent: Bronte Properties, Queensbury Tel: (01274) 884040.

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