Historic home in Horbury for sale with its own tiny jail cell

This historic property for sale in the sought-after village of Horbury is exciting plenty of interest thanks to its size, fabulous period features and a historic added extra - its own tiny jail cell.

The home, which is on the market for £595,000 with Richard Kendall, started life in 1708 as a school with a jail for local reprobates attached. The little cell, where prisoners were held before being tried by the local magistrate, had one room for reprobates and another above for the jailer. The jailer’s room is now a summer house/art studio thanks to a sensitive transformation of the site by Peter Vickers and Catherine Fitzsimmons.

They converted what were run-down buildings into a fabulous four-bedroom family home with two apartments. “We bought the property in 1997 and at that time it had been used by a printer. We loved the history of it and the position but it took a long time to convert it and get it to a high standard,” says Peter. “It was the best part of 10 years, during which time we did some research on the history, which is fascinating.

“It started as a penny reading school until the Education Act of 1870 and weavers, basketmakers and crafters taught there. Over the years it had different uses but the little lock-up jail cell is still there and we have kept it as it is as it is one of only two left in the country so it is of historic importance.”

He and Catherine are sad to be selling but are downsizing after 22 happy years now that their four children have flown the nest. “We have enjoyed living here so putting the for sale sign up was hard but this is a family-size house and it is too big for us now,” says Peter

The Grade II listed house has an entrance hall, study hall, guest wc and a large living room. A kitchen, which has an Aga, leads to the dining room. On the first floor, there are four bedrooms and a bathroom.

The attached annex is divided into two apartments. On the ground floor, there is a self-contained one bedroom apartment with a kitchen area flowing through into a dining area, a living room, bedroom and shower room/wc. On the first floor is another apartment with two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen and living room.

Outside, the house stands in beautifully tended gardens. Ample parking is available in the free car park across the road and a planning application is in place to restore off-street parking to the property.

For details contact Richard Kendall: tel, 01924 266555, www.richardkendall.co.uk

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James Mitchinson