The Inside Story on ... Bilham Road, Clayton West. Price: £390,000. www.richardkendall.co.uk When Arlene Skrzeczkowski asked her father, a joiner, if he would check out a historic cottage she and her husband Bogdan were thinking of buying, he came back smiling and covered in plaster dust. Along with assessing the work needed to update the property, he wanted to see whether its most striking period features had been retained. He was delighted to discover that the original beams were still in tact, albeit hidden by plasterboard. Bogdan, who is pleased that he had the good sense to bow to his wife’s expertise, said: “We lived nearby and Arlene had spotted this house for sale when walking the dog. She could see its potential, whereas I struggled.” The couple bought the house 30 years ago and, after carrying out a comprehensive renovation with regular updates, they have lived there happily ever since. “We had to gut it but that was helpful because we also found the original flagstone floors that were covered with concrete,” says Bogdan. They also discovered old coins, when uncovering the window seats, and clay pipes from the 1700s when the garden was dug to lay a drain. The most astonishing find was an underground room in the grounds, which is believed to have been a cold store. “We were very lucky to have my father-in-law to help us do the work. It wouldn’t be the house it is now if it wasn’t for him. He did an amazing job,” says Bogdan, who also credits Arlene for the beautiful interiors, which complement the building’s age and character. The couple are selling the four-bedroom house now that their three children have grown-up and flown the nest. “We will miss this house as it is in the oldest and nicest part of the village, but we plan to stay in the area,” says Bogdan. The house has a dining hall, a sitting room with beamed ceiling and open fire, a kitchen, pantry and a utility room. On the first floor, there are two double bedrooms, two single bedrooms and a bathroom. Outside, the property has a garden backing onto the village’s Millennium Green, a drive and a detached garage Clayton West has two pubs, a primary school and a grocery store. Wakefield and Huddersfield are within easy reach and the motorway network is readily accessible. Contact: Richard Kendall, tel: 01924 291294, www.richardkendall.co.uk
