HILTON House stood empty and abandoned for a number of years. But Ginette and Chris Murphy have injected new life into the large stone-built property after buying it 11 years ago.
The couple spotted the stunning Edwardian house in homemaker and fell in love with its idyllic setting, spacious rooms and period features. The couple’s first thoughts were that the house, in Bellingham, Northumberland, was too far from Newcastle. Yet they soon discovered it was just a 45-minute traffic-free drive away.
They snapped up the property, rented a nearby cottage with their three young children, and set about transforming it into their dream home. After six months, the family moved in. But the whole refurbishment took nine years.
Ginette said: “We were originally going to move to France, but having three young children, I panicked and we decided to stay in the UK. We first saw the house in homemaker. It was completely dilapidated and we couldn’t move in for six months. It had stood empty for a few years, so needed quite a lot of work.” Built in 1902 from local stone, the detached property has a wealth of period features such as leaded windows with stained glass details, magnificent period fireplaces, ornate coving and an Arts and Crafts staircase. There is a large entrance porch with wood flooring, reception hall with Edwardian archway and living room with sash bay windows and cast iron fireplace. The sitting room has an oil-fired stove set within a stone fireplace.
Ginette’s favourite part of the house is the kitchen/family room. “It’s the hub of the house and where we all congregate,” she said.
Features include a sitting area with oil-fired stove, Rayburn set within an inglenook fireplace, and island unit. There is also a utility room and cloakroom. With six bedrooms and large versatile reception rooms, the property is every inch a family home. Ginette said: “It’s a really big house with enough rooms for the children and us to have friends to stay. There are some great schools in the village too, and the school bus picks up at the bottom of the garden so there’s no need for school runs.”
Upstairs there is a library/bedroom with cast iron fireplace, three bedrooms with fireplaces and one with en suite bathroom. There is also a family bathroom with claw foot Victorian bath and separate wc. The second floor has two further bedrooms with fireplaces.
Located on the Pennine Way, the property could also provide a potential business opportunity and would work well as a B&B.
“There are some great countryside walks nearby. The house is in the middle of the village, yet we are completely secluded. It overlooks the North Tyne and there are views over rolling countryside. The large lawned gardens are great for playing croquet.”
The property has a gravelled driveway providing parking for a number of cars, lawned gardens and timber summer house.
“We had no intention of moving for another five years or so, but the children have almost left home and we’ve found a smaller property nearby. We are staying in Bellingham as it’s such a wonderful village.”
Hilton House, Bellingham, is for sale through RPS Residential at a guide price of £750,000, tel: (01434) 608980.
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