Rarer still when it’s just ten minutes from Bury town centre.
It is little wonder why Roxanne and Myles Davies had a heavy heart when they decided to put their huge, detached, double-fronted 1897 Victorian villa up for sale.
“It was meant to be our ‘forever’ home when we moved in nine years ago,” said Roxanne. “Unfortunately, my mother-in-law is poorly so we’ve decided to buy a new property so that she can live with us.”
Since moving into West Bank House on Walmersley Road, they have spent in excess of a-quarter-of-a-million pounds carefully renovating it.
“We didn’t want to rip out all the original features and turn it into a house of bling. We wanted to do this house justice. It’s a piece of history.”
The work was a labour of love and included rewiring, new plumbing, a new heating system, and a new boiler.
“We took it right back to the brick,” explained Roxanne.
Specialists conducted the bulk of the work, but Roxanne was not afraid to roll up her sleeves.
“I stripped the wooden stair spindles by hand, which took me five years.
“I documented all the renovation work, showing how the house has evolved. I’ll be passing that on to whoever buys it, along with the 1897 indenture documents with the agreement between the Earl of Derby and West Bank’s original owner, Harry Howarth, who was a cotton mill manager.”
Although they have had to install new features, the cast iron radiators and reclaimed fireplaces are completely in fitting with the Victorian feel.
The high skirting boards, ceiling roses, cornice, coving and original doors all add to it.
One of Roxanne’s favourite rooms is the shaker style kitchen kitchen-diner, to which they added a built-in pantry and bar, a £2,000 fridge freezer, a Falcon cooker, a wine cooler, and a dish washer.
Chandeliers feature prominently in the house, including one from an old French chateau and another from a lighting company who used the house as a set for its promotional brochure.
Like all rooms in the house, the three enormous bedrooms are high ceilinged. Planning permission has also been granted for two further double bedrooms in the attic, with an ensuite, and a guest room in the cellar.
The double bay sash windows have acoustic soundproof glass, and classic white plantation shutters.
The Laura Ashley-decorated playroom is loved by the couple’s sons, five-year-old Isaac and one-year-old Noah.Its aluminium bi-folding doors lead to the landscaped garden, where there is also an electric charging point for cars.
One of the biggest investments the couple made was to add a natural stone porch to the building.
Roxanne and Myles have fallen in love with the area as well as the house.
“It’s a very welcoming community and I’ve made friends for life here,” said Roxanne.
“There’s beautiful countryside, like Cheesden Valley, close by and the schools are fantastic. That’s why we want our next home to still be in Walmersley.”
In fact, so taken is she with the area, that she has become something of an ambassador, and other members of her family followed her.
Her sister, Tamara, moved from Yorkshire to live in the house next door, and her mum has also crossed the Pennines and now lives in Ramsbottom.
“West Bank is a unique home, a real gem. There’s something really special about it. It’s got good energy,” said Roxanne.
“I’m struggling with the realisation that I’ll never own a property like it again.
“It’s perfect for a family, and it’s ready to move in. I just hope the new owners will love it as much as us.”
If you are interested in buying West bank House, please contact Miller Metcalfe.
