SUZANNE Ford knew the moment she stepped into the hallway that this was the house for her.

“I just took one look and knew it was where I wanted to live. We didn’t bother to even look anywhere else…”

It’s not hard to see what so captured Suzanne’s heart – the hallway is indeed hugely impressive.

Underfoot, there is a wonderful Edwardian mosaic tiled floor, while above, the stairway winds its way up to the top two floors providing a sense of elegant grandeur.

It is in the hallway that you get the first sense of the sweep and style of this high and handsome house, all big ceilings, cornicing and curves, deep windows and lots of light, bright space – a style that is carried throughout the property, comfortably blending that style and grandeur with a warm, welcoming feel.

It is, as Suzanne says, “a wonderful family house”. But, back to basics. Where is this house?

It is an Edwardian villa, built in 1908, sitting in genteel fashion on Moor Lane, a long, leafy road in Strensall, a short walk away from the village’s main street with its many amenities and yet a quiet and peaceful spot.

Suzanne and her husband Bryan came here eight years ago for that captivating love-at-first-sight moment.

But, as is often the case, the course of true love did not run smooth… While Suzanne might have been hit by a metaphorical lightning bolt, the house itself was hit by a real one shortly after they moved in.

“There was a terrific storm,” Suzanne recalls, “and the house was struck by lightning.”

It might not have seemed so at the time, with the electrics burned out, the roof and various other parts of the house seared, but that lightning strike was something of a blessing in disguise.

It allowed the Fords to set to and refurbish the house to their own style – while having a new roof put in place and the electrics thoroughly overhauled.

The result is a fabulous family home, beautifully styled and presented and with not just that mix of grand and cosy, but also a seamless blend of traditional style with contemporary comfort.

But enough of waxing lyrical.

Having introduced you to the hallway, we will continue the tour, guided by Suzanne who is still, it soon becomes apparent, very much in love with her home.

At the back of the property is a long and beautifully-fitted breakfast kitchen, laid out with a rustic farmhouse feel and with bespoke pine fitted units, a warming Aga range cooker (as well as a separate gas hob) and pretty seating area overlooking the rear garden (of which more later).

“It’s a really warm and cosy spot,”

Suzanne says, “especially in winter with the Aga on.”

You step from the kitchen directly into another lovely spot, a super, characterful lounge which, in its own turn, is warmed by a log-burning stove, while to the back, French doors open on to a flagged patio area, providing views down the long, lawned garden to open fields beyond.

We have arrived at just the right time to see the garden in full autumnal glory – a towering beech tree at the bottom end shot through with seasonal copper and gold colours, beyond which are open fields and woodland.

A set of double doors open from the lounge into a spacious dining room with deep bay windows to the front, solid wood flooring and high ceilings with cornicing and picture rail and with a gas fire set in a granite hearth with timber surround.

Just the place, we suggest, for a family dinner party. Suzanne agrees.

“It is a great house for family parties.”

There is certainly plenty of room for visitors. On the first floor, there are two bedrooms and a bathroom – plus a fantastic master bedroom with en-suite shower room.

This, as it turns out, will be one of our favourite rooms. It’s a big space and, like the rest of the house, stylishly presented. It is from here you get perhaps the best views of the garden and the surrounding countryside.

Our favourite it may be, but it is not the biggest bedroom in the house – that prize is taken by a 25ft long bedroom on the floor above, running from front to rear (it was at one time two bedrooms).

When all of the Ford family children were at home (and had friends along with them to add to the mix) this room at one time provided weekend sleeping quarters for 16 people! A good job, then, that there is a large bathroom to this floor.

All but one of those children have now grown up and left home, the last of the brood, Rebecca, 14, is tucked away in her bedroom but does manage to add to mum’s sales pitch by calling out from behind a closed door: “it’s got really nice big windows”.

The final room on our visit is accessed by steps down from the top floor landing, another bedroom or, as it is now, an office/study, with recently fitted bespoke shelving and storage.

Having clattered back downstairs, we are now seated in that quiet warm and cheerful lounge when Suzanne admits that leaving this wonderful mix of style, substance, character and charm behind will be a wrench.

But head is ruling heart. Husband Bryan, who works in the oil industry, has a long and wearying commute up to Aberdeen. He and Suzanne and Rebecca have decided to make the move north of the border.

“I will be really sorry to leave,”

Suzanne says. “I’ve enjoyed living here, but it is a big house and, as I said, it needs to be filled.”

She pauses and then smiles ruefully.

“But I will be sorry to go. I do still love this house.”

Let us hope when Suzanne makes that trip north that lightning strikes not once, not twice but three times – and she finds another home to fall in love with.


11 Moor Lane, Strensall

Reception rooms: 2.

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 3.

Gardens: Small front garden with driveway, off street parking and garage.

Delightful, long rear garden, with patio area and lawn and with super views across open fields.

Wow factor: The master bedroom is superb but the warm, peaceful lounge with views across the garden and beyond is a brilliant spot.

Price: £465,000.

Contact: Your Move Anscombs. Tel: (01904) 621532.