Gorgeous Georgian home close to the M1 and in walking distance of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park

“The ancient farm buildings add to the historical atmosphere which is strongly felt inside and out, bringing a delightful sense of the past, peace and culture.

“You can just imagine a scene from Pride and Prejudice with a Jane Austen character arriving to greet the owner.”

Indeed you can and Ms Austen would surely have approved of the location and also the decor, which compliments the Georgian features.

The hall dates from 1670 but was extensively rebuilt and enlarged circa 1750 by renowned architect John Carr for wealthy ironmaster William Cotton.

Later, in the Victorian era, it was let, which helped preserve it from regular modernisation and thereby ensured that its impressive staircase, beautiful fireplaces and other gorgeous Georgian features stayed intact.

Mr and Mrs Tuckey bought the house in 1991 and have improved it by carrying out a sensitive update and redecoration that has greatly enhanced it.

Mr Tuckey says: “Among the improvements were replacing the servants quarter doors from the 1950s and 1960s with handmade doors that better reflect the period when the house was built.”

He and his wife also invested in a fabulous damask silk wall covering, which they bought from a stately home.

“We managed to find out how to get it hung and, not only does it look beautiful, it has made a big difference to the room, which felt quite hollow before,” says Mr Tuckey.

The property, which adjoins a farm and has rural views over fields, comes with two acres of gardens and grounds. Inside, it has an entrance hall, large secondary hallway with staircase, downstairs W.C., home office, snug, library, a magnificent dining room, a drawing room, breakfast kitchen, butler’s pantry and six bedrooms.

There is also a first floor family room, extensive cellars and a large attic space and outside is garaging and a sweeping circular driveway.

The property is just a few minutes to junction 38 of the M1, which provides swift access to the M62 with Leeds to the North and Sheffield to the south.

Haigh Hall is close to Barnsley and to the villages of West Bretton and High Hoyland and you can walk from the house to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

“The Sculpture Park is a wonderful place and it is virtually on the doorstep. You can go down the drive and walk 50 metres down to the woods and then along fields for 200 metres and you are there.”

When you get home to Haigh Hall, Mr Tuckey concludes: “You really do feel like you are leaving the world behind.”

The property is for sale at £1.8m with www.simonblyth.co.uk