SOMETIMES the property you’ve been searching for is just around the corner. That’s how it was for Gerard Lyons and his wife Valerie, 63. The couple fell for their dream Victorian property after going to view the house that’s attached to it. Gerard explained: “We fell in love with the property as soon as we saw it. Although it looks like it’s a detached property it’s actually joined to another property.
“We had actually come to see the other part of the house. As soon as we turned the corner we saw this house. My wife said, ‘That’s the house I want!’ and luckily for us it had a For Sale sign up,” explains 64-year-old Gerard, managing director of a bathroom company. That was in 1992 and the couple, who have a son, Stephen, 34, have loved living in the County Durham property ever since. “It was built for the manager of the steel works in Spennymoor in the 1860s,” explains Gerard. “All the rooms are of lovely proportions and there are lots of original features such as the cornicing and ceiling roses and the fireplaces.” The property did not require much refurbishment but the couple have put their own stamp on it: “The previous people had done a lot of work to it. Everything is just really good quality – we got it all replumbed just before we got it and it is electrically sound. We remodelled the front garden, created a new entrance for the double garage and moved the front entrance back.” Gerard thinks the house would suit a larger family who could use its spacious rooms: “The bedrooms are all good-sized doubles and there is also a large loft space that’s boarded out. I have planned to convert it ever since we moved in but never got round to it.” Accommodation includes two spacious reception rooms, conservatory, breakfasting kitchen, three bedrooms with en-suite shower room to the master bedroom and a family bathroom. There is also the substantial loft space, gardens to the front and side while to the back is a detached double garage plus off-street parking for three to four cars. “I like different parts of the house at different times of the day,” says Gerard. In the morning he makes the best of the sun pouring through the bay window in the breakfasting area, in the afternoon it’s the cosy living room. “We have loved living here but we are looking to get something a little smaller. It’s a lovely house. There are so many nice features and we will both be sad to leave. We want somebody to get it who will appreciate it like we have.” The property in North Road, Spennymoor, is for sale through Reeds Rains at £329,950, tel: 01388 420303. | 
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