Situated on the edge of Farnley Tyas, this week’s Our House was originally built by a couple who could not bear to leave their friends, the village they had come to love and the fabulous view over rolling countryside and Castle Hill.
Rimrock, situated in Woodsome Road, was originally commissioned by Richard and Mollie Barker who lived in the house next door for 36 years.When the steep stairs in their home, Cliffe House, became too challenging, they decided to build another home on part of their garden, previously a field.
Now the couple’s daughter Vanessa Welling, and her husband Mark who are looking after the house, have put the property on the market following the death in recent years of both Vanessa’s parents.
She said: “Rimrock was designed in 1991 by the architect Alisdair Ingram in close consultation with Mollie, my mother. She had lived on the site for many years and had spent many happy hours mentally creating her perfect house. She knew exactly how she needed to position the rooms to catch the best of the view and the sunshine, and the least of the wind.’’
Vanessa said her mother knew that gardening would be problematic in old age so she ensured the garden would be low maintenance with minimal work but still able to make the most of the view.
“We see wonderful sunsets from this house and the garden is a real sun-trap. In good weather it’s lovely sitting on the balcony to see the view,’’ said Vanessa.
From the front Rimrock is a single-storey property but is two-storey at the rear due to the hillside location.
Vanessa said: “My mother designed Rimrock to keep it quite hidden from public view. From quite an unassuming frontage, you pass through the spacious house and see the astonishing view of fields, woods, Castle Hill, and in the distance Lancashire.
“This provides the perfect arena to enjoy the sunsets, spectacular storms and approaching snow showers with which West Yorkshire is blessed,’’ said Vanessa.
Enter the spacious property and you’ll find the majority of the accommodation on the ground-floor. This was designed so that Richard and Mollie had everything at hand as they grew into their old age.
On this floor there is a good sized kitchen with breakfast bar and a useful utility room next door, a large conservatory, a dining hall with balcony, a large lounge and master bedroom with integral contemporary wet room.
Moving to the lower ground-floor, there are three further bedrooms, a bathroom and store rooms. Outside the house at the front, there is a paved driveway leading to an integral double garage.
Vanessa said: “People often ask us why the house is called Rimrock. The name dates back to our childhood when my sister and I were allowed to play out, but only go so far away from the back of Cliffe House. If you look from the balcony, there is a rock and that was our boundary. My mother decided that was a good name for her new home when Rimrock was built.’’
This is a lovely spacious home with one of the best views in the area. It has the advantage of being in the rural setting of Farnley Tyas but with easy and quick access to both Honley and Almondbury for both shopping and schools.
The house is being marketed by Boultons estate agents 01484 515029.
PRICE: £450,000.
