The rural dream in the city

THE sun is dappling the tips of the cherry tree where bright pink blossoms are just beginning to show. There is the chirp of birdsong in the air and a lovely sense of quiet calm.

“We have loved this garden,” Jacky Burton says. “It’s such a lovely spot. I like to walk to the end and then look back. It’s an absolute delight.”

Indeed it is. From where we are standing, next to the timber shed and the fence that marks the bottom boundary, you can see along the gravel path, framed by an avenue of branch-touching trees all now coming into leaf, winding its way through a tangle of shrubs and flower beds towards the stone-flagged patio terrace at the back of the house.

It’s a country cottage rural dream of a garden – despite the fact that Jacky’s home is little more than a short riverside stroll from the centre of York and just minutes from the centre of Fulford village.

“It’s an ideal location,” Jacky says. “You are close to town yet it feels like you are living in the countryside, it’s so peaceful.”

It was the location which first attracted Jacky and husband Phil to this home, a charming and character-filled Victorian town house in St Oswalds Road.

It is a fine street of fine homes, a long road running from the village to Fulford Ings with its pleasant riverside walks, including one which takes you straight into town.

But, as we are soon to discover, this is a property with more in its favour than just location, location.

It’s a handsome house, the front face providing a smile of sash windows to the side of a smart blue door, wisteria climbing and framing the walls.

Beyond the door you step into a hallway and then through to the first of a series of impressive period rooms.

This is a through lounge-dining room, resplendent with high ceilings, while light dances in from a deep window to the front and a set of French doors to the back.

At the centre of the sitting room area is a feature period-style cast- iron fireplace with inset decorative tiles on the hearth.

And it’s a working fire, too. “We don’t need it at this time of the year,” Jacky says, “but it is lovely on a winter’s night to have it blazing away. It makes this room really pleasant and warm.”

And that’s an interesting thing about this house. While it has the grand touches that remind us of its Victorian past it somehow manages to create a comfortable, cosy feeling; a mix of town house and cottage in a charming sort of way.

Jacky is taken with the thought. “I think so, too,” she says. “It has that feeling of space, because of the high ceilings and the fact the rooms are a good size, but, yes, it feels very cosy.”

What adds to that character is a mix of original features – like built-in wall cupboards and dado rails– alongside newer pieces which have been created to blend into the style of the property.

These include a matching pair of ornate wall-mounted cupboards at each end of this through room; created – and quite beautifully so – by one of Phil’s relatives especially for the house.

From the dining room you step into a kitchen fitted with a range of high-gloss white base units with granite effect work tops before finding your way to a separate utility room with plenty of space for the washing machine and dryer.

Now, we double back into the hallway and up the stairs to the first floor where there is an added bonus in the shape of a study area, ideal for a computer desk (or, if you prefer, a lovely place to plump down into a reading chair and enjoy the views from the window).

Beyond this space there is a good-sized bathroom with a large corner bath and a separate shower cubicle.

As this is not a room that is overlooked it is easy to imagine sitting in the bath and gazing out through the dual aspect sash windows to back and side and enjoying the open sky and the waving treetops.

Well, perhaps not totally overlooked… “We have a squirrel that comes along and peers in every now and then,” Jacky says, laughing.

The main house bedroom is another period gem, running the length of the front of the house and with views down the road to Fulford Ings. This room features another original cast iron fireplace with decorative inset tiling and has an original built-in cupboard/wardrobe.

There is a second double bedroom to the rear of the house, with splendid views over that delightful garden.

All in all, then a lovely home in a lovely street… which brings us back to location.

“The thing I noticed when we came here,” says Jacky’s son Lloyd, “is that there is almost a village feel to the street and a real sense of community spirit. Everyone says hello and you often finds bags of apples or whatever left in the front garden by the neighbours.

“It’s a really friendly place.”

14 St Oswalds Road, Fulford

Reception rooms: Spacious through lounge/dining room with window to the front and French doors to the rear garden.
Bedrooms: Two
Bathrooms: One
Gardens: Beautiful, good-sized cottage-style garden to the rear with a mass of mature trees and a block paved patio terrace.
Wow factor: The gardens are a real winner here…
Price: £350,000
Contact: Your Move Anscombs. Tel: 01904 621532.