A bounty of rural riches awaits the buyers of this historic house

The hoiuse and land is perfect for use as a smallholding or for those with horses

The Inside Story on ..Heathercote, Romaldkirk, £775,000, www.robinjessop.co.uk

When Steve and Kate Sylvester relocated to the north from the south west for work, their main priority when searching for a new home was a place with land and stabling for their horses.

“Kate’s family came from this area, which is why we decided to look for a property around here.

The contemporary kitchen with period features

“We were very lucky to find Heathercote. It is a wonderful place and as soon as we saw it we knew it was perfect. It had everything we wanted and the views from the house are stunning,” says Steve.

The nearby village of Romaldkirk, which is in the old North Riding of Yorkshire and now part of County Durham, was also a selling point. It has two pubs, including the Rose and Crown, which is renowned for its food. There’s also a village hall with plenty of activities.

The A1M is a 20-minute drive away and Barnard Castle is a 12-minute drive. There are regular trains to London from nearby Darlington. Steve and Kate are relocating back to the south west for work and are sad to leave Heathercote behind.

“We knew that it wasn’t our forever home and that we would go back south but we will miss this place. If we could pick it up and take it with us we would,” says Steve.

The stylish dining area with beautiful views

Heathercote was built by the rector of Romaldkirk, who was the father of Captain Bligh, the commander of HMS Bounty. At that time it was called Tinten, after Captain Bligh’s Cornish birthplace.

Now Heathercote, the house and converted barns retain many original features, along with mod cons, such as a good broadband connection and underfloor heating.

The ground floor has a dining kitchen, a snug, a reception hall, cloakroom, sitting room, a double bedroom, a boot and utility room and a wet room. On the first floor, there are four bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Outside are gardens and three grass paddocks in 9.5 acres with a field shelter and large chicken run.

The house was built by the father of Captain Bligh of Mutiny on The Bounty fame

The property also has stone stables adjacent to the house, three loose boxes and a tack room. There is also a garage, an agricultural barn and a barn with potential for conversion.

“Heathercote could offer a complete lifestyle change in a superb setting,” says estate agent Tim Gower of Robin Jessop.