Our House: Nettleton Hill cottage

Dec 8 2009 By Emma Davison

Our House: Nettleton Hill cottage

Peaceful Nettleton Hill was a big draw for Molly

IT has been described as the ‘lost’ village of Huddersfield.

The hamlet of Nettleton Hill sits perched on a hillside overlooking Salendine Nook and the Colne Valley.

It hit the headlines when those living in the cobbled-street village described how there wasn’t even a signpost pointing the way. Ironically, signage has been put up in recent weeks.

But for one woman, the tucked-away little community proved a welcome retreat.

Huddersfield-born Molly Baxter moved there from Golcar nine years ago.

The village had become too busy for her liking and she was looking for a change of pace and scenery, somewhere quiet and peaceful.

Former hairdresser Molly started looking for a more rural setting and found the perfect place in Nettleton Hill.

“I was looking for an old cottage and when I saw this one in the estate agents window I thought it had everything I had been looking for.

“I did know about Nettleton Hill. Where I live there’s about 10 houses with 32 across the way, so it is a little hamlet.

“It was once described in the paper as a forgotten village, but it’s in a very pretty spot with countryside walks on the doorstep.”

Molly had found the perfect location and the cottage at Green Edge was full of the character she had been searching for.

The clematis-covered Grade II listed cottage was built around 1850.

Molly says: “I have the old deeds to the house and I think it was a weaver’s cottage and like the other cottages belonged to one family who were involved with the textile industry.

“I had been living in an old cottage and wanted to live in one again, because I really enjoy the sense of history.

“This one had a lot of character and many original features, like mullioned windows and beams and an old fireplace in the living room.”

When Molly moved in the house was looking a bit neglected, with damp floors and the leaky roof in fast need of repair.