YOU don’t just get two for the price of one at the supermarket. This stylish conversion in a rural setting near Elton, Stockton features not only a semi-detached renovated barn, but also an adjacent cottage.
The Old Moat is more than two centuries old. Meanwhile, the main house on the site was first renovated in 2000, and offers contemporary living in a picturesque country environment. The adjacent cottage, converted after owners Lorraine and Gerard Brogan moved in just over two years ago, is used as a snooker room and guest accommodation when members of the couple’s large extended family visit. Lorraine’s favourite room is the handsome lounge in the main house, which has a vaulted ceiling with beams, as do many of the other rooms. It also has one wall with exposed brick, wood floors, and a multi-fuel stove set in a brick fireplace surround. “We use it a lot because it’s really cosy.” Gerard favours the large snooker room, also with beams, exposed brick wall and wood floors plus a bar. “He loves to play snooker and it can be hard getting him out of there,” Lorraine laughs, adding that it’s like father, like son, since their two-year-old boy got a small-sized snooker table for Christmas. Other rooms in the main house include a spacious dining/family room, which looks out onto the garden and countryside, a conservatory, family bathroom, master with en suite shower and two further bedrooms. The kitchen’s wooden units are custom-made, and there is a Belfast sink, range-type cooker and integrated appliances. As well as the snooker room, the cottage has a kitchen/breakfast room, and a double bedroom with en suite shower room. Outside there are more excellent amenities, including a log cabin-style summerhouse, currently used as a gym, and a sauna. Step outside on the deck and you can luxuriate in the large hot tub, with its tranquil rural views. “It’s a really sociable thing,” added Lorraine. The Old Moat has plenty more outside features, including extensive landscaped gardens and a two-and-half acre paddock. “It would be ideal for someone who owned horses, although we don’t. We use it for bonfire parties or for games in the summer,” added Lorraine. The property also includes an enclosed children’s play area, four garden sheds and a currently unused chicken run, which could also be used for dogs. Birds are in abundance, because at the bottom of the garden there is the original old moat which gave the property its name. Now enclosed as a wildlife pond, it attracts many feathered friends. “There’s everything from wrens, bull finches and blue finches to woodpecker. “And a few times in the winter, we’ve even seen deer in the field or in the lane.” The Old Moat is about a mile up a country lane, in a small hamlet, with entrance by remote controlled gates to the sweeping drive. Only two miles from the facilities of Hartburn, Stockton, it combines luxury country living with convenient access to town. Lorraine says that what first attracted her to the property was the beautiful garden, with its many trees, shrubs and plants, including apple and plum trees, lavender bushes, willow, heather, dogwood and ornamental grasses. But having bought another property to be closer to family, the Old Moat is up for sale. The Old Moat is on the market for £565,000. For more details call Halifax Estate Agents, Yarm on 01642 783902. | 
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