Victorian home offers secluded splendour in sought-after village

The Inside Story on The Dene, Kirkburton, £900,000, www.simonblyth.co.uk

The cold winds on the high ground in Emley prompted Simon Walker to seek a home in warmer pastures and he was fortunate to find the perfect property in a great location. The Dene is in Kirkburton, nestled in a valley and close to the many amenities t this sought-after village has to offer.

Simon bought the house 16 years ago from an owner who had lived there for over 40 years. “It needed updating but it has a big garden and is in the heart of the village, which were big selling points,” he says.

“Kirkburton has a great community and it has everything you could need, including butchers, pubs, a baker, a post office and convenience store and even a hat maker and a tennis club.”

Over the years the period property has been treated to a sensitive programme of modernisation, with attention paid to the structure and infrastructure. It has had a new roof and has been repointed, replumbed, rewired and treated to a new central heating system.

In the 1960s, the property had a doctor’s surgery at the rear and the waiting room and consulting rooms remained until the Walkers used the space to enlarge the kitchen and make a separate utility room.

Simon is selling to downsize and says: “It is a lovely family house and the transport links are excellent. It’s very easy to get to both Huddersfield and Wakefield.”

The Dene was built for a Victorian mill owner and retains many period features. On the ground floor it has a grand entrance hall, a sitting room, formal dining room, open-plan breakfast kitchen with an Aga and a family room area, a utility room, downstairs WC and a rear porch. The lower ground floor has four rooms.

On the first floor, the main bedroom has an ensuite bathroom and dressing room. There are a further four double bedrooms, a house bathroom, separate WC and a shower room. The second floor has a double bedroom with ensuite shower room.

Outside, there is a turning area and a detached double garage, along with off-street parking for multiple vehicles. There are lawns to the front and side of the house, along with woodland leading down to Dean Bottom Dike.

Kirkburton has well-regarded schools and many amenities, including independent shops.

*Contact: Simon Blyth, tel: 01484 603399, www.simonblyth.co.uk

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