“PEOPLE walked on these wood floors more than 300 years ago,” reflects Jean Duffy.
The handsome exposed wood is just one of the many attractive features of this three-storey Grade II listed home on Yarm High Street - and in fact this Georgian house dates back 350 years. Jean, who lives here with her two grown sons, says that when she first saw the house more than 20 years ago, she was “blown away”, although it did need considerable refurbishment. She and her husband sympathetically renovated the entire property, since some of the original beams had been plastered over and “nasty carpets” originally covered the floorboards. However, that’s long gone and now this home oozes character, including sash windows, yet also has plenty of modern comforts. What’s more, it has another big asset - location, location, location. Last year BBC Breakfast viewers voted distinctive Yarm High Street the best high street in Britain. Jean’s favourite room is the living room, with its beamed ceiling and stone fireplace with inset open fire. “It’s spacious, light and has a pleasant ambience.” The dining room also is beamed, with original coving and picture rail, and has a fireplace with cast-iron surround. The 22ft kitchen/breakfast room is a wonderful family room, with hard-wearing Amtico flooring, a range of wall and base level units including island unit, and integrated electric oven and gas hob. “It’s big enough that my boys used to ride their bikes up and down the kitchen,” she laughs. The kitchen also has a delightful historic cast iron oven range inset into an exposed brick surround. “The kitchen has a continental feel to it. I’m always cooking and both my husband and I had big families, so we did a lot of entertaining.” Up the original staircase to the first floor, there are three bedrooms and a five-piece bathroom, including shower cubicle and bidet, as well as an interesting cast iron fireplace. Two of the bedrooms also have fireplaces, as well as a range of built-in cupboards and drawers. There are a further two bedrooms to the second floor, one having a fireplace. Both bedrooms have the benefit of en suites, one a bathroom, the other a shower room. To the rear of the house there is the convenience of rear access gates, which allow off street parking - a big plus in central Yarm. The paved courtyard also has raised flower and shrubbery planted borders, plus further shrubs and trees. “It’s a quaint little place and just enough for me to potter about in.” An interesting detail about the property is that celebrated 18th-century minister John Wesley stayed here on one of his many preaching tours around the country. He inscribed his initials on one of the windowpanes, although the family gave the pane to Preston Park museum because of its historical value. “It’s a beautiful house and it’s been an absolute pleasure living here,” says Jean, who is selling it because she is making changes in her life. “It might suit a young professional couple with children, people who have discerning tastes.” This property is on the market inviting offers in the region of £575,000. For details call Roseberry Newhouse, Yarm on 01642 792488. | 
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